1. FFA Proficiency Awards Joe W. Kotrlik - LSU - 6-28-07

2. What is a Proficiency Award? Presented by National FFA to recognize excellence in SAE. Awards available in over 40 areas. Placement or Entrepreneurship categories Joe W. Kotrlik - LSU - 6-28-07

3. Proficiency Award Categories Agricultural Communications - Placement Agricultural Mechanics Energy Systems - Placement Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance – Placement/Entrepreneurship Agricultural Processing - Entrepreneurship Agricultural Sales – Placement/Entrepreneurship Agricultural Services – Placement/Entrepreneurship Aquaculture - Placement Beef Production - Entrepreneurship Dairy Production - Entrepreneurship Diversified Ag Production – Placement/Entrepreneurship Diversified Crop Production - Placement Diversified Horticulture – Placement/Entrepreneurship Diversified Livestock Production – Placement/Entrepreneurship Emerging Agricultural Technology - Entrepreneurship Environmental Science and Natural Resources - Placement Equine Science – Placement/Entrepreneurship Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production - Entrepreneurship Floriculture - Placement Food Science and Technology - Placement Forest Management & Products - Placement Grain Production - Entrepreneurship Home and/or Community Development - Placement Landscape Management - Placement Nursery Operations - Placement Outdoor Recreation – Placement/Entrepreneurship Sheep Production - Entrepreneurship Small Animal Production & Care - Placement Specialty Animal Production - Entrepreneurship Specialty Crop Production - Entrepreneurship Swine Production - Placement Turf Grass Management - Entrepreneurship Wildlife Production and Management – Placement/Entrepreneurship Joe W. Kotrlik - LSU - 6-28-07

4. Proficiency Awards Proficiency award winners are recognized at the: –local level –area level –state level –national level Joe W. Kotrlik - LSU - 6-28-07

5. Categories National: top 4 individuals in placement and in entrepreneurship are recognized in each category (total of 8). If adequate sponsorship is not available, placement & entrepreneurship grouped together for judging and the top 4 are recognized. Joe W. Kotrlik - LSU - 6-28-07

6. Proficiency Award Tips Don’t wait until the junior or senior year to look at the application. Review the application form early and start working on it. Look at past applications from the chapter. FFA Proficiency Award Forms Joe W. Kotrlik - LSU - 6-28-07

7. Proficiency Award Tips Follow instructions Do not alter the application in any way, it will be “DISQUALIFIED” –e.g., copying application into Word document, altering space given for responses, changing font size below 10 pt Use latest revised application forms. Confirm LA application deadline

8. Joe W. Kotrlik - LSU - 6-28-07 Proficiency Award Tips Take photos throughout the year Change shirts/caps When possible, use caps/jackets with FFA logo Move closer to your subject when possible – close-ups are better than distant shots

9. Proficiency Award Tips In the application: –Don’t Say “This is a photo of….”. The judges know it is a photo. –Use action oriented captions: “Pruning shrubs will increase…” –Do not show unsafe facilities or practices in photos (e.g., not wearing safety goggles while repairing equipment) Joe W. Kotrlik - LSU - 6-28-07

10. Proficiency Award Tips Neatness makes a big impression Check the application for spelling, grammar, math errors Submit the application in an FFA award binder Joe W. Kotrlik - LSU - 6-28-07

11. Proficiency Award Tips The application is a series of questions about the students and their SAE. Some questions are easy; others require thoughtful consideration. Other sections ask for figures based on SAE records.

12. Proficiency Award Tips Review the information on National FFA Proficiency Awards at http://www.ffa.org/index.cfm?method=c_programs.Proficiency Joe W. Kotrlik - LSU - 6-28-07