Sholes wins Small Animal Production and Care Proficiency Award

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COLUMBIA, Mo., April 24, 2025 – Addisen Sholes of Blue Springs South won the Missouri FFA Small Animal Production and Care Proficiency Award at the 97th Missouri FFA Convention.

Sholes, a senior at Blue Springs South High School, is the daughter of Grant and Amber Sholes. She is a member of Blue Springs South FFA Chapter. Her advisor is Craig Zwahlen.

Sholes’ supervised agricultural experience program involves breeding, raising,and training pugs, while also handling toy and non-sporting group dogs at American Kennel Club (AKC)-sanctioned events. She is responsible for the care and training of each dog, including daily feeding, changing water bowls, administering medication to senior dogs, monitoring nursing mothers and their litters, and training puppies to walk on leads and stand for confirmation presentations on the floor and table.

Sholes has experience training livestock guardians, as well as her many hours in breeding, training, raising, and showing pugs. While attending school and being an active FFA member Sholes has been able to manage her time allowing her to be able to show and care for her dogs during the school year. She has competed at several shows, proving her hard work at the Pug National Competition in Spokane, Washington.

After graduating high school, Scholes plans on becoming a veterinarian specializing in brachycephalic breeds. She plans on utilizing her education and expertise to contribute to ongoing research aimed at identifying genetic predispositions and preventive measures that safeguard brachycephalic breeds’ health and long-term viability.

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Small Animal Production and Care is one of 45 proficiency award areas recognized at the state level. Missouri FFA Foundation sponsored this award.

The Missouri FFA has 26,900 members representing 365 chapters. The national organization has more than 1,027,273 members representing 9,235 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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