Oaks named state winner in diversified agricultural production proficiency award area

CONTACT INFORMATION

COLUMBIA, Mo., April 18, 2024 – Grant Thomas Oaks of Harris won the Missouri FFA Diversified Agricultural Production Proficiency Award at the 96th Missouri FFA Convention. 

Oaks, a senior at Newtown-Harris R-III High School, is the son of Justin and Stephanie Oaks. He is a member of the Newtown-Harris FFA Chapter. His advisors are Stephanie Oaks.

Oaks’ supervised agricultural experience program consists of working on his family farm. He helps maintain and take care of hogs and cattle as well as hay production. His responsibilities include farrowing out sows, selling pigs to local youth and selecting genetics for breeding. He also has his own herd of cattle that he breeds, calves, and retains females for production. 

As an FFA member, Oaks attended Helping Youth Maximize their Agricultural eXperience, State FFA Convention, Missouri Farm Bureau Leadership Day and Missouri Agribusiness Academy. Oaks also exhibited at the National Barrow Show in Austin, Minnesota and attended the National FFA Convention & Expo.

In addition to FFA, Oaks is a member of the National Honor Society, Newtown Community 4-H Club, Saint Mary’s Catholic Church and Team Purebred Junior Swine Association. 

After graduating high school, Oaks plans to attend the University of Missouri and study Agricultural Systems Technology. He also plans to continue helping on the family farm. 

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Diversified agricultural production one of 46 proficiency award areas recognized at the state level. Missouri Farmer Today sponsored the award. 

The Missouri FFA has 26,830 members representing 362 chapters. The national organization has more than 945,000 members representing 9,163 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The 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.

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