Conger wins Agriscience Research Integrated Systems Proficiency

CONTACT INFORMATION

COLUMBIA, Mo., April 16, 2026 – Lucy Conger of Rolla won the Missouri FFA Agriscience Research – Integrated Systems Proficiency Award at the 98th Missouri FFA Convention.

Conger, a senior at Rolla Technical Institute, is the daughter of Christopher Conger and Amy Conger. She is a member of the Rolla FFA Chapter. Her advisors are Cord Jenkins and Randy Stockstill.

Conger’s supervised agricultural experience is centered on agriscience research projects in both animal and social science systems. Her animal systems research, titled The Effect of Anthelmintics on the Rumen Microbiome of Meat Goats, examined how deworming treatments influence rumen bacterial diversity in meat goats. The study involved collecting rumen samples from multiple goats across different age groups, treating samples with common anthelmintics and analyzing bacterial colony growth under controlled incubation conditions.

Her second project, titled Leadership Identity Perceptions in Rolla FFA Upperclassmen, used a survey-based approach to evaluate how involvement and post-graduation plans influence students’ perceptions of leadership within the FFA chapter. Data was collected electronically from upperclassmen and analyzed using Likert-scale responses and demographic comparisons.

Conger has been an active FFA member since 2023 and has participated in agricultural education coursework throughout high school. Her experiences in agriscience research have strengthened her interest in continuing research at the collegiate level and pursuing future studies in agribusiness management and agricultural law.

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees, or researchers while gaining real-world, hands-on experience in agriculture. Agriscience Research – Integrated Systems is one of 46 proficiency award areas recognized at the state level. FMC Corporation sponsors 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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