Cope is state winner in vegetable production proficiency award area

CONTACT INFORMATION

COLUMBIA, Mo., April 18, 2024 – Pacey Cope of Martinsburg won the Missouri FFA Vegetable Production Proficiency Award at the 96th Missouri FFA Convention. 

Cope, a senior at Community R-VI High School, is the son of Aaron and Mandy Cope. He is a member of the Audrain County R-VI FFA Chapter. His advisor is Stacy French.

Cope’s supervised agricultural experience program involves renting 11 acres where he grows 15 varieties of pumpkins annually. His responsibilities include choosing seeds, planting, harvesting, making pricing decisions, and marketing to customers.

As an FFA member, Cope has competed on the state level in the Agricultural Sales, Forestry, and Meats career development events. Outside of FFA, he has exhibited livestock nationally and is a member of the varsity baseball team. 

After graduating high school, Cope’s plans include attending welding school and becoming a traveling welder. 

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees, or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Vegetable Production is one of 46 proficiency award areas recognized at the state level. Missouri Vegetable Growers Association sponsored this 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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