RELEASE DATECONTACT: Kent Boggs
May 2, 2018405-743-5498
CalumetFFA Member Earns Swine Production Placement State Proficiency Award
By Jackalyn Elliott, Media Intern
OKLAHOMA CITY –Tyler Wilkinson of the CalumetFFAChapter earned first-place honors in the2018Oklahoma FFA Swine Production Placement Proficiency Award area during the 92nd Oklahoma FFA Convention May 2.
Maddox Coulson of the Wellston FFA Chapter and Jaden Brunnemer of the Cushing FFA Chapter earned second- and third-place honors, respectively.
Wilkinson has been showing pigs since he was nine years old. He applies the agriculture and livestock skills he learned as a child, he said, by working at various operations as a swine herdsman. He said he also enjoys the marketing aspect of his job, especially meeting new customers and creating relationships with them.
“The main motivation for me was the thrill of winning, knowing that hard work pays off and that I can set goals and work hard to achieve them,” Wilkinson said.
After graduation, Wilkinson said he plans to attend OKlkahoma State University to study agricultural communications and agribusiness.
The 18-year-old Calumet FFA member is the son of Ricky and Michele Wilkinson. His agricultural education instructorand FFA adviser isRickyWilkinson.
The swine production entrepreneurship proficiency award recognizes students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience that uses best management practices to produce and market swine efficiently.
The award is sponsored on the state level by Oklahoma Pork Council, Essential Feeds, The Chickasaw Nation and T&D Meats. This event is sponsored on the national level by Provimi North America Inc.
FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education division in the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. With nearly 27,000 members and 360 chapters, the Oklahoma FFA Association is the fourth-largest state FFA association. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the Oklahoma FFA, visit okffa.org.
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Tyler Wilkinson (not pictured) of the CalumetFFA Chapter captured first-place honors in the 2018 Oklahoma FFA Swine Production Placement Proficiency Award area. Nikki Snider (right) of the Oklahoma Pork Council congratulatesJaden Brunnemer(left) of the Cushing FFA Chapter, who received second place.
The award is sponsored on the state level by Oklahoma Pork Council, Essential Feeds, The Chickasaw Nation and T&D Meats. This event is sponsored on the national level by the National FFA Foundation and the National FFA Organization.The awards were presented during the 92nd Oklahoma FFA Convention in Oklahoma City May 2.