Finkeldei wins Nursery Operations Proficiency

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COLUMBIA, Mo., April 17, 2026 – Ethan Lane Finkeldei of Santa Fe won the Missouri FFA Nursery Operations Proficiency Award at the 98th Missouri FFA Convention.

Finkeldei, a senior at Santa Fe High School, is the son of Jason and Amanda Finkeldei. He is a member of the Santa Fe FFA Chapter. His advisors are Brittany Hemme and Martha Schreiman.

Finkeldei’s supervised agriculture experience involves working at Cedar Lanes Greenhouse, where he assists in planting, growing, and shipping of all flowers. He also assists with the irrigation and fertilization processes. The company has nine greenhouses, and Finkeldei assists in the detailed organizing and marketing of all the products. He helps with custom designs for special events.

After graduating high school, Finkeldei plans to keep working at the greenhouse and hope to add landscaping services to their portfolio.

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Nursery Operations is one of 45 proficiency award areas recognized at the state level. St. Louis Community College (Meremac) Horticulture Programs sponsored this award.

The Missouri FFA has 27,000 members representing 369 chapters. The national organization has more than 1,042,245 members representing 9,407 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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