Galt student qualifies for national FFA competition
FRESNO — Galt FFA member Ashlie Antheunisse was awarded the Small Animal Production and Care Proficiency Award at the 89th State FFA Leadership Conference in Fresno. She now qualifies to compete at the national level this fall.
The Galt High School senior’s proficiency includes working at Cedar Hill Birds store and ranch, a family business where she helps with the care, nutrition and breeding for over 8,000 exotic parrots for wholesale and retail sale.
Antheunisse’s future plans include earning her bachelor’s degree in agribusiness and to further her family business.
Galt High School agriculture teacher JessaLee Goehring said she immediately noticed the student’s love for animals and her passion and love for Cedar Hill Birds.
“She is a true natural and extremely talented and knowledgeable,” Goehring said, adding that the local FFA chapter was so excited to see her hard work recognized.
The outstanding accomplishment of this student signifies the hard work, determination and perseverance that are needed in order to attain this level of honor, Lloyd McCabe, state FFA advisor and California Department of Education, Agriculture and Home Economics unit manager, said in a prepared statement.
“The competencies, financial achievement and personal growth students receive through FFA activities ultimately give them the skills desired for their future endeavors.”
The Small Animal Production and Care Proficiency Award focuses on teaching students production of small pet animals such as rabbits, cats, dogs, mice, hedgehogs and guinea pigs. This award honors students who have demonstrated high achievement in the production and/or marketing of their projects.
Mike and Chantelle Albiani sponsor the state award and Ainsworth Pet Nutrition and Tractor Supply Company sponsor the national award in this proficiency area. Antheunisse is part of the Galt FFA team that was recognized as a Gold Star Chapter at this year’s state leadership conference.
The National Chapter Award program recognizes outstanding FFA chapters from throughout the country that successfully completed an annual set of required activities that encourage members to grow as individuals, work as a team and serve others in their communities.
Chapters that received star ratings will be sent to the National FFA scoring where they will score and rank the chapters to be recognized at the 2017 National FFA Convention Expo in Indianapolis this October.
The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to close to 650,000 student members who belong to one of 7,859 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.