The 87th Minnesota FFA Convention took place earlier this week on the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities campus. More than 3,600 FFA members, advisors and supporters gathered to celebrate the accomplishments of agricultural education students from across Minnesota.

Each year, the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council (MSR&PC) partners with the Minnesota FFA Foundation to present deserving FFA members with plaques and awards for their outstanding efforts to further their agricultural education.

“It’s important for Minnesota Soybean to support the future of agriculture,” said Minnesota Soybean Director of Industry Relations and Membership Veronica Bruckhoff. “These students are our future farmers, industry leaders and ultimately, consumers.”

This year, MSR&PC supported two awards for Proficiency winners in the areas of Agriscience Research- Plant Science and Fiber & Oil Crop Production.

Winning this year’s Agriscience Research – Plant Science Proficiency was Brandon Kasprick of the Thief River Falls FFA Chapter. Elizabeth Wilts of the Kerkhoven Murdock Sunburg FFA Chapter won the Fiber & Oil Crop Production Proficiency award.

Both Kasprick and Wilts incorporated soybeans directly into their Supervised Agricultural Experience Programs that form the basis for Proficiency award applications.

In addition to the Proficiency awards, MSR&PC presented the award to the top placing Crops Career Development Event (CDE) team and individual. The Jackson County Central FFA Chapter won the Crops CDE contest with Sarah Holmberg, Jackson County Central FFA Chapter, winning top individual.

Proficiency award winners and winning CDE teams qualify to compete at the National FFA Convention and Expo held in October in Indianapolis.

MSR&PC was also recognized as a Supreme Champion Sponsor of the Minnesota FFA Foundation. The Foundation is a non-profit organization with a 24 member board that works to secure resources to support FFA and agricultural education.

Minnesota is home to 183 FFA chapters with 10,187 active members. According to the National FFA Organization, FFA has 629,367 active members making it the largest youth leadership organization in the country. FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.