Kendra Zeilstra of Brunswick won the Missouri FFA Fruit Production Proficiency Award at the 95th Missouri FFA Convention.

She is a member of the Brunswick FFA Chapter. Her chapter advisor is Kendra Krapfl.

Zeilstra’s supervised agricultural experience program consists of growing, managing, and marketing peaches and nectarines. Her responsibilities include buying supplies, pruning trees to ensure proper fruit growth, and marketing fruit through social media.

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Fruit production is one of 46 proficiency award areas recognized at the state level. The Missouri State Horticulture Society sponsored the award.

Makenna Stundebeck of Salisbury won the Missouri FFA Agricultural Education Proficiency Award at the 95th Missouri FFA Convention.

She is a member of the Salisbury FFA Chapter. Her advisors are Abby Barron and Carley McCall.

Stundebeck’s supervised agricultural experience program consists of growing and operating her own pumpkin patch, Puzzle Creek Pumpkins. She has invited students from the local private elementary school for a field trip to her pumpkin patch where she taught them about the planting, growing, and harvesting process. Stundebeck also provided each student with a medium sized pumpkin to take home and information to share with their families. She has since expanded her field trips to both the public and private elementary schools and has taught over 130 students about vegetable production.

The Missouri Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association sponsored the award.

Photos courtesy of Missouri FFA media room.