SPRINGFIELD – A Mendota High School senior has been selected as the State FFA Proficiency Winner in Diversified Crop Production – Placement. Jack Beetz is a member of the Mendota FFA Chapter of the Illinois Association FFA. He was selected as the State Winner by a committee of agriculture teachers knowledgeable in this work-based area, who reviewed his records online and then conducted virtual interviews from their homes and offices throughout the state. Jack is the son of Brooke Beetz from Mendota, IL and his SAE projects involved working for the family farming operation.
Receiving this honor now makes Jack eligible to compete in the National FFA Awards Selection process in July, 2021. He was previously chosen as the Chapter, Section 7 and District 2 awardee is this area which involves working for a business that applies the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market crops from two or more of the following proficiency areas: grain production, fiber & oil crop production, forage production, specialty crop production (excluding floriculture production), vegetable production or fruit production.
Illinois FFA recognizes students in fifty different areas based on their work-based learning, also known as Supervised Agricultural Experiences or SAE. FFA members who demonstrate outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through record keeping, leadership, and scholastic achievement may be considered for this award. SAEs allow students to learn by doing by either owning and operating an agricultural business, working or serving an internship at an agriculture-based business or conducting an agriculture-based scientific experiment and reporting results.
Jack has been involved in the following other agriculture education and FFA activities: Jack has demonstrated his leadership skills by serving as chapter Reporter, Treasurer, and currently serves as the Chapter President. He has attended the National FFA Convention & Expo as well as the BUILD Leadership Conference. He has competed in the Section 7 Agronomy and Agricultural Mechanics CDEs. He has chaired the Mendota FFA Parliamentary Procedure team for three years and they recently won the Section 7 contest to advance to the District Level. Jack was named the first place Chairman.
Jack was also the 2019 Section 7 proficiency winner in Forage Crop Production and the 2020 Section 7 winner in Specialty Crop Production. Jack was named the 2021 Section 7 Star in Agricultural Placement and has been recommended to receive his State FFA Degree at the 93rd Illinois FFA State Convention. Matthew Meyer is the agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor at Mendota High School.
Jack will receive plaques for his accomplishments and be celebrated for this great achievement. These plaques are made possible by gifts by individuals, businesses, corporations and organizations through the Illinois Foundation FFA.
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