O’Brien wins Agricultural Education Proficiency

CONTACT INFORMATION

COLUMBIA, Mo., April 16, 2026 – Madeline O’Brien of Troy won the Missouri FFA Agricultural Education Proficiency Award at the 98th Missouri FFA Convention.

O’Brien, a senior at Tory Buchanan High School, is the daughter of James and Janet O’Brien. She is a member of the Troy FFA Chapter. Her advisors are Rob Calvin, Evan Lagemann and Matt McCory.

O’Brien’s supervised agricultural experience involves assisting the Troy Agricultural Education Department by serving as a department assistant and contributing to educational outreach events that involve growing recruitment and student support activities. She continued to help in programs such as Ag Education on the Move and middle school recruitment.

O’Brien  is now making management decisions, effectively collaborating with advisors, and learning how to make education programs run smoother. Serving as a Troy Agricultural Education Department assistant and youth mentor. Her experience has taught her about collaboration, leadership, responsibility and educational outreach.

O’Brien’s plans after graduation include attending University of Missouri to major in agricultural education with a minor in political science. While continuing her passion for agricultural education she will use her degree to pursue teaching after college.

Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excel as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience. Agricultural Education is one of 46 proficiency award areas recognized at the state level. The Missouri Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association sponsored the 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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