California FFA is proud to recognize the winners of the Agricultural Proficiency Awards, announced during the 98th State FFA Leadership Conference held from March 21 to March 24 in Ontario. These prestigious awards honor FFA members who have developed specialized skills through their Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), which are integral to agricultural education and help prepare students for career success.
The Supervised Agricultural Experience program, which has been a part of agricultural education since 1917, offers students an individualized application of the career and life skills taught in agricultural education courses beyond scheduled class time. Whether through student-led businesses, work-based learning, or research projects, SAEs give students hands-on experience that enhances their classroom learning and aligns with their individual interests in agriculture.
Proficiency awards celebrate students who have applied their SAEs to real-world settings and even career pathways. The awards acknowledge excellence in diverse areas, including agricultural communications, wildlife management, and many other fields, all of which prepare students for success in agriculture and related industries.
At this year’s annual State FFA Leadership Conference, 38 students were named winners of their respective award categories. This honor qualifies these students to compete in the national competition, where they will represent California and contend with other state association winners for national recognition.
After an extensive interview and application process, four national finalists in each proficiency area will be honored on stage at the National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis in October. Please see the list below for this year’s winners.
Agricultural Communications: Shaminka Elwin, Merced-El Capitan FFA
Agricultural Education: Samantha Grant, Bakersfield-Frontier FFA
Agricultural Mechanics Design/Fabrication: Adrian Sánchez Venegas, Madera FFA
Agricultural Mechanics Repair/Maintenance Entrepreneurship: Braden Wheeler, Templeton FFA
Agricultural Mechanics Repair/Maintenance Placement: Chase Nickens, Ramona FFA
Agricultural Processing: Wyatt Hackney, Escalon FFA
Agricultural Sales Entrepreneurship: Sofia Figueroa-Mendez, Merced-El Capitan FFA
Agricultural Sales Placement: Gabriel Laymon, Shingle Springs-Ponderosa FFA
Agricultural Services: Baylor Bloom, Gustine FFAAgriscience Research – Animal Systems: Riley Piehl, Santa Rosa FFA
Agriscience Research – Integrated Systems: Owen Osterkamp, Holtville FFA
Agriscience Research – Plant Systems: Addison Jones, Lakeside-El Capitan FFA
Beef Production Entrepreneurship: Joseph Schohr, Gridley FFA
Beef Production Placement: Nancy Sullivan, Altaville-Bret Harte FFA
Dairy Production Entrepreneurship: Lauren Silveira, Chowchilla FFA
Dairy Production Placement: Eva Taylor, Tomales FFA
Diversified Agricultural Production: Katie Looper, Galt FFA
Diversified Crop Production Entrepreneurship: Jacob Zuniga, St. Helena FFA
Diversified Crop Production Placement: Jackson Alves, Hamilton City-Hamilton FFA
Diversified Horticulture: Uriel Andrade, Porterville-Monache FFA
Diversified Livestock: Mathew Machado, Madera FFA
Environmental Sciences/Natural Resources: Elliott Kramer, Galt FFA
Equine Science Entrepreneurship: Austin Cline, Arbuckle-Pierce FFA
Equine Science Placement: Karina Venegas, Madera FFA
Forage Production: Mason Medley, Madera FFA
Forest Management/Products: Ty Tweedy, Sanger FFA
Fruit Production and Nut Production: Logan Daniel Rose, Galt FFA
Goat Production: Sofia Sousa, Hanford FFA
Grain Production Placement: Charles Ferguson, Lemoore FFA
Nursery Operations: Alley Long, Atwater-Buhach Colony FFA
Outdoor Recreation: Cooper Dalo, Lakeside-El Capitan FFA
Poultry Production: Izabellah Torres, Bakersfield-Highland FFA
Service Learning: Abigail Woods, Galt-Liberty Ranch FFA
Sheep Production: Madysen Dietz, Merced-El Capitan FFA
Small Animal Production and Care: Saray Madriz Alcaraz, Madera FFA
Specialty Animal Production: Clarke Conrad, Merced-El Capitan FFA
Specialty Crop Production: Dulce Hernandez Reyes, Santa Maria-Pioneer Valley FFA
Swine Production Entrepreneurship: Gauge Goehring, Galt FFA
Swine Production Placement: Emelie Rhoades, Bakersfield-Highland FFA
Turf Grass Management: Christopher Tornero, Madera FFA
Vegetable Production: Isabel Silva, Santa Maria FFA
Veterinary Medicine: Emma White, Shingle Springs-Ponderosa FFA
Wildlife Management: Derek Rulon, Cottonwood-West Valley FFA
