Michael Dierking of Blackburn, Missouri, won the Diversified Crop Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award at the 95th Missouri FFA Convention.

Dierking, a senior at Santa Fe High School, is a member of the Santa Fe FFA Chapter. His advisor is Martha Schreiman.

Dierking’s supervised agricultural experience program consists of producing corn, soybeans, and sweet corn. His responsibilities include purchasing machinery; renting land for planting; planting; pest and disease management; fertilizing; and marketing and selling his crop. He has expanded his operation to produce 200 acres of yellow corn, 50 acres of soybeans, and 11 acres of sweet corn by renting land from nearby farmers.

As an FFA member, Dierking was a state winner in the Fiber & Oil Production Proficiency Award and Grain Production Proficiency Award, advancing him to compete at National FFA Convention & Expo.

Emmett Finkeldei of the Santa Fe FFA Chapter received the second place Missouri FFA Nursery Operations Proficiency Award at the 95th Missouri FFA Convention.

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Nursery Operations is one of 46 proficiency award areas recognized at the state level. Missouri Green Industry Alliance sponsored this award.

Photo courtesy of Missouri FFA media room.