Pennoyer receives national FFA recognition

National FFA Organization announced on Friday, Aug. 4 that Jessie Pennoyer of Thermopolis was selected as a national finalist for the National FFA Proficiency Award in Beef Production-Placement. Pennoyer is one of only four people chosen to compete for this award at the national finals to be held at the 91st National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis Oct. 24-27.

The proficiency awards recognize outstanding student achievement in agribusiness gained through establishment of a new business, working for an existing company or otherwise gaining hands-on career experience. The Beef Production-Placement award is one of 47 proficiency program areas FFA members can participate in to develop valuable experience and leadership skills at the local, state and national levels. Descriptions of each proficiency award area are available at FFA.org/proficiency.

The Beef Production-Placement award is for a student who works for a livestock producer applying the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market beef. This award is for any beef animals, including miniature Hereford, Zebu, etc.

Pennoyer said she's been working for her dad and the family ranch since she was a little girl and grew up learning the management practices. She further added she started with simple chores from helping feed to trailing cows, but now has a real say in the genetics used, using her livestock judging knowledge to help select replacement heifers to helping with daily operation of the ranch. As far as the paperwork involved, she kept an accurate FFA record book of items such as the hours put in and how many cattle she owns, and the application itself was 24 pages long.

She was excited to find out she is a finalist and able to attend the national convention, though she previously attended with the Thermopolis chapter for National State Booth.

Josi Thurgood earned a Bronze rating in Diversified Agricultural Production-Entrepreneurship/Placement. Placement is non-ownership, agriculturally related paid or unpaid employment and/or volunteer work. Examples include hourly employment at an agricultural magazine, salaried work as a groom at a horse stable or working as an unpaid volunteer to maintain the landscaping at a local park.

Thurgood said with living on a farm she was able to utilize her own cows and hay in the work toward the award, though she noted there was plenty more paperwork to fill out for it, including essays regarding how many cows they have and financial aspects of the operation. She was shocked and surprised to find out she was one of the top placers for the award.

In recognition of being a national finalist, each of the four finalists receives a plaque and $500. The national winner of the Beef Production-Placement will receive an additional $500 during a special ceremony at the National FFA Convention & Expo.

Pennoyer will also be awarded the American FFA Degree at the 91st National FFA Convention & Expo. Her father was the first recipient of the award from Thermopolis, in 1977. "I am proud," she stated, "to have earned mine and follow in his footsteps for such a prestigious award. The work and record keeping was a lot but it was my love for showing market steers and breeding heifers that really started the process. I now have my own commercial herd as well as a Registered Hereford herd."

Pennoyer said among the work put in for the American FFA Degree was keeping accurate records, financially and through her FFA journal. For those current and aspiring members of FFA, she said, it certainly pays off in the long run to keep accurate records and you are rewarded for the hard work you do.

Each year, the National FFA Organization honors FFA members who show the utmost dedication to the organization through their desire to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.

The American FFA Degree is bestowed upon a select group of students in recognition of their years of academic and professional excellence. This year 4,255 American Degrees will be awarded.

To be eligible, FFA members must have earned and productively invested $10,000 through a supervised agricultural experience (SAE) program in which they start, own or hold a professional position in an existing agricultural enterprise. Recipients must also complete 50 hours community service and demonstrate outstanding leadership abilities and civic involvement.

Each recipient of the American FFA Degree receives a gold American FFA Degree key and certificate after being recognized on stage at the national convention.

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 653,359 student members who belong to one of 8.568 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization is also supported by 344,239 alumni members in 2,051 alumni chapters throughout the U.S.