California FFA is proud to recognize the winners of the Agricultural Proficiency Awards, announced during the 97th State FFA Leadership Conference held from April 3 to April 6 in Sacramento. 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, 44 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. The following is a full list of this year’s winners:
Agricultural Communications: Saray Madriz Alcaraz, Madera FFA
Agricultural Education: Kaycee Van Horn, Santa Maria FFA
Agricultural Mechanics Design/Fabrication: Trevor Wright, Hollister-San Benito FFA
Agricultural Mechanics Repair/Maintenance Entrepreneurship: Lucas Pulse, Atascadero FFA
Agricultural Mechanics Repair/Maintenance Placement: Alden Hansard, Atwater FFA
Agricultural Processing: Gavin Ames, Lakeside-El Capitan FFA
Agricultural Sales Entrepreneurship: Anabel Quintana, Lodi-Tokay FFA
Agricultural Sales Placement: Brandon Flores, Gonzalez FFA
Agricultural Services: Addison Bond, Palo Cedro-Foothill FFA
Agriscience Research – Animal Systems: Ari Rutman, Gilroy FFA
Agriscience Research – Integrated System: Riley Piehl, Santa Rosa FFA
Agriscience Research – Plant Systems: Juliana Carroll, St. Helena FFA
Beef Production Entrepreneurship: Peyton Wood, Yreka FFA
Beef Production Placement: Hayley Byrd, Corning FFA
Dairy Production Entrepreneurship: Mykell Mull, Chowchilla FFA
Dairy Production Placement: Lauren Silveira, Chowchilla FFA
Diversified Agricultural Production: Nicholas Bonomi, Sanger FFA
Diversified Crop Production Entrepreneurship: Owen Baffunno, Los Banos FFA
Diversified Crop Production Placement: Weston LaGrande, Arbuckle-Pierce FFA
Diversified Horticulture: Sophia Sisil, Madera-Liberty FFA
Diversified Livestock: Joseph Schnohr, Gridley FFA
Environmental Science/Nat Resources: Jacob Zuniga, St Helena FFA
Equine Science Entrepreneurship: Jacey Tweedy, Sanger FFA
Equine Science Placement: Genevieve Atwell, Cottonwood-West Valley FFA
Forage Production: Jack Majors, Visalia-Central Valley Christian FFA
Forest Management/Products: David Guerra, Santa Maria-Pioneer Valley FFA
Fruit and Nut Production: Rafael Rodriguez Gaytan, Riverdale FFA
Goat Production: Mathew Machado, Madera FFA
Grain Production Placement: Lane Dunbar, Nicolaus-East Nicolaus FFA
Landscape Installation: Christopher Tornero, Madera FFA
Nursery Operations: Chase Weiland, Wildomar-Elsinore FFA
Outdoor Recreation: Nicolas Bump, Marysville FFA
Poultry Production: Taleah Lusk, Altaville-Bret Hart FFA
Service Learning: Andrea Guzman-Soto, Santa Maria-Pioneer Valley FFA
Sheep Production: Elizabeth Wagster, Atascadero FFA
Small Animal Production and Care: Dylan Cardey, Atwater FFA
Specialty Animal Production: Madison Stayer, Palo Cedro-Foothill FFA
Specialty Crop Production: Rebekah Villalobos, Atwater FFA
Swine Production Entrepreneurship: Kallie Loogman, Hanford FFA
Swine Production Placement: Grace Curry, Hughson FFA
Turf Grass and Landscape Management: Jose Avalos, Galt FFA
Vegetable Production: Charles Ferguson, Lemoore FFA
Veterinary Medicine: Peyton Heermance, Altaville-Bret Hart FFA
Wildlife Management: Mori Stidman, Visalia-VTEC FFA
About California FFA: California FFA serves more than 105,000 students and strives to make a difference in their lives by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the California FFA, visit calaged.org.