“Supporting Leadership Opportunities and activities of the FFA and Agriculture Education”
ND FFA FOUNDATION PO BOX 6022 BISMARCK, ND 58506 www.ndffafoundation.com V O L U M E
1 3
I S S U E
2
J U L Y ,
2 0 1 4
Stars Over North Dakota at the 85th State Convention Setting goals and working hard to achieve them are nothing new to Justin who, under the instruction of his ag education advisor, Brian Schneider, has accomplished FFA successes at the local, state, and national levels.
Star Farmer Justin Leier, Napoleon Thirteen miles southwest of Napoleon, ND is home to beef cattle, sheep, sows, butcher chickens, layer hens, and the hard working family of Justin Leier, his three siblings, and their parents Mitch and Doris Leier. To say the Leier Farm is diversified is an understatement. In addition to livestock production Justin’s family also farms. His diversified livestock production SAE includes the production of all of the aforementioned species and an agricultural placement SAE, working as a laborer for a neighboring farmer.
Star in Agrisbusiness Audra Montgomery, Carrington
Star in Agriscience Ashlyn Draovitch, Richland 44
From a very young age, biology has been an interest of Ashlyn Draovitch’s, according to her advisor Tony Boehm. It’s no surprise then that training horses and managing grazing land, coupled with her work in sunflower breeding for NuSeed (formerly Seeds 2000) have been excellent experiences for her to gain Always setting new goals, Justin plans knowledge in genetics and biological to attend NDSU, majoring in crop and processes that will benefit her as she weed science and eventually obtain a pursues a degree in veterinary master’s degree so that he can work medicine. as a research scientist in agronomy. Not only does he have his education and career planned, he also knows what campus organizations in which he plans to be involved such as Saddle & Sirloin and PAS because they will help him prepare for his career. INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Scholarships
Boehm said, “In the classroom, there are few more dedicated and mature (than Ashlyn).” This testimony makes it is easy to understand how her early responsibilities of weeding and thinning NuSeed sunflower test plots has grown to supervision of three employees at the breeding nursery in just two short seasons.
3-4
Sponsors
6
CDE Results
8
State Degrees
10
Proficiency Awards
12
American Degrees
13
Montgomery and her advisor is Melissa Hansen. Her FFA activities have earned her a place on three ND state champion teams and most recently the coveted “baby bison” as the high individual of the livestock evaluation CDE.
Ashlyn understands the importance of her role in the research plots, “I have to be very careful and very accurate as the work done is critical to the successes of breeding new varieties. A mistake can cause the loss of data for an entire research season.” Ashlyn is the daughter of Andrew and Raquel Draovitch.
When it comes to recognizing opportunity, it’s hard to beat Audra Montgomery. It was when traveling to local and national livestock shows, exhibiting her Angus cattle and Hampshire sheep she recognized the need for show supplies and seized an opportunity to become a dealer representative for Sullivan Show Supply products. With help from the ND FFA Foundation’s Beginning SAE Grant program, Audra made the initial minimum purchase of $1,500 and started Final Drive Show Supply. In addition to Audra’s show supply business, she has a diversified livestock SAE that has grown in numbers and, as she states, “also in knowledge.” By knowledge, she refers to the implementation of practices like artificial insemination, embryo transfer, and ultrasound to enhance the quality of her livestock. This past year Audra was instrumental in the establishment of her family’s first ever livestock production sale. As if her show supply business and livestock production SAEs weren’t enough, Audra also has a placement SAE working for the Carrington Research Extension Center and Dakota Growers Pasta which has sparked her interest in food science, a degree she plans to pursue this fall at NDSU. Audra is the daughter of Dennis & Betty
Star in Ag Placement Colbie Fandrich, Wishek It is hard to name a sector of the ag industry in which Colbie Fandrich has not gained experience through his FFA SAEs. From working for area ranchers to work at the local sales barn, dealerships, and mechanical shops; Colbie’s experiences are diverse. Tremendous support and encouragement from his parents, James and Jessica, have allowed Colbie to seize additional opportunities like taking over Big Dog Sanitation, a company with 35 clients. With all of the off-farm placement and his own business to manage one would think there would be no time for production agriculture, yet Colbie raises butcher and laying chickens, cattle, and horses and last year won the state poultry production proficiency. Advisor, Rocky Brown summarizes Colbie’s success best, “He has found a niche in the Wishek market…. doing the jobs that no one else wants. His responsibility and work ethic is what made this project successful. Colbie is known for his work ethic and being a leader by example.”