RELEASE DATECONTACT:Kent Boggs

May 2, 2018405-743-5498

MincoFFA Member Earns Swine Production EntrepreneurshipState Proficiency Award

By Jackalyn Elliott, Media Intern

OKLAHOMA CITY –Chasen McPherson of theMincoFFA Chapter earned first-place honors in the 2018Oklahoma FFA Swine Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award area during the 92nd Oklahoma FFA Convention May 2.

Emily Cinnamon of the Garber FFA Chapter and Paden Day of the Mulhall-Orlando FFA Chapter earned second- and third-place honors, respectively.

McPherson’s parents are both agriculture teachers, and after countless hours tagging along with his dad visiting students’ projects, he was inspired to raise his own show pigs. His initial inventory was four breeding swine but has grown to 16 in just three years. Through studying the trends of the show industry, McPherson has been able to identify popular genetics, the best time to farrow and appropriate marketing strategies.

“The matrix of decisions associated with breeding dates, genetic mating, nutrition and farrowing a successful pig crop is complicated,” McPherson said. “One of the greatest accomplishments that has impacted my swine production is selecting superior genetics that preform well in the show industry.”

After graduating high school, McPherson plans to attend Oklahoma State University majoring in physics with a minor in music.

The 17-year-old Minco FFA member is the son of Chancer and Melinda McPherson. His agricultural education instructor and FFA adviser is Steve Clark.

The swine production entrepreneurship proficiency award recognizes students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience that uses best management practices to produce and market swine efficiently.

This award is sponsored on the state level by Show-Rite Feeds,the Oklahoma CareerTech Foundation and Oklahoma Pork Council. This event is sponsored on the national level by Farmland Foods and Tractor Supply Co.

FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education division in the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. With nearly 27,000 members and 360 chapters, the Oklahoma FFA Association is the fourth-largest state FFA association. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the Oklahoma FFA, visit okffa.org.

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CUTLINE:

Lindsay Henricks (right) from Oklahoma Pork Council congratulates Chasen McPherson (second to left) of the Minco FFA Chapter who placed first in the 2018 Oklahoma FFA Swine Production Entrepreneurship State Proficiency Award area, Emily Cinnamon (second from right) of the Garber FFA Chapter and Paden Day of the Mulhall-Orlando FFA Chapter, who earned second- and third-places, respectively.