Eminence FFA Chapter Members Wins State Agriculture Sales Title
Agriculture Sales Team: From left to right, Lucy Daily, Morgan Stierwalt, Wyatt Stierwalt, and Charles Kelsey
Eminence’s FFA Agricultural Sales team of Lucy Daily, Charles Kelsey, Morgan Stierwalt, and Wyatt Stierwalt took first place in the state competition and will make a run at the national title in October at the National FFA Convention to be held in Indianapolis.
The purpose of the FFA Agricultural Sales Career Development Event is to evaluate skills that are essential for an individual to be successful in the agricultural sales field. The process of selling agricultural products is essential for production and marketing of agricultural products. By competing in the contest, students develop verbal, written and interactive communication skills, prepare a pre-call sales sheet, demonstrate knowledge of proper product use, and show understanding of the basic business structure necessary to sell and deliver a product. In this year’s competition, students were required to have an understanding of animal health systems, develop a pre-call document, and perform a face to face sale with beef, dairy, and swine producers needing safe and effective health care.
Wyatt Stierwalt, headed to Lakeland Community College on a livestock judging scholarship, said the agricultural sales career development event was a great experience and he is now considering a dual major in animal science and agriculture business, Stierwalt goes on to say, “ I found out that I am pretty good at understanding people’s needs and wants and it is exciting to provide the exact kind of animal health care products to fit their needs”
McGown was pleased with the team’s finish, but not totally surprised, “when these students came in the first practice and all scored 100’s on their assignment that I had given them, I thought, ‘Wow, this team could win the state’. Then, when they had to miss practice to put hay up and requested an extra practice so they could catch up, I thought, ‘Ok, this team is going to be special’ and they were” Six members of the Eminence FFA attended the 87 th State FFA Convention June 13-June 16th th at Purdue University. In addition to career development events, FFA members attended leadership sessions where they got the chance to listen to several inspirational guest speakers. The Convention also provides an opportunity for FFA members serve the Indiana FFA Association through courtesy corps and delegate positions and to attend leadership training workshops from state and national leaders. Kelsey and Stierwalt served as chapter delegates. The Eminence FFA chapter is one of the oldest chapters in the state with members actively involved at the local, district, state and national level.
The team was coached by current Eminence FFA advisor and agriculture teacher, Rich McGown and incoming FFA advisor, Hallie Patten. Ms. Patten brings lots of experience to the FFA advisor and agriculture teacher positions after serving four years at West Central High School and three more years as a consultant for a northern Indiana agriculture business firm. While her agribusiness experience provided her with extensive plant and soil skills, working with her family’s beef herd has given her a great deal of training in the livestock industry as well.
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