The Minnesota FFA Sheep production Proficiency Awards has a new sponsor.

Curtis Youngs, an animal science professor at Iowa State University, made a monetary gift to the Minnesota FFA Foundation to establish the James E. & Nancy L. Youngs Proficiency Fund to permanently support the sheep production proficiency award. The fund joins other sponsors of the proficiency award, including The Farmer magazine.

The proficiency award recognizes the achievements of FFA members who own or work for a business that includes the best management practices available to efficiently produce sheep, sheep products and wool.

Youngs was active in FFA in high school, first in Ohio and later in Winona, Minn.

“I wanted to honor my parents for making an incredible array of educational opportunities available to me,” Youngs said. “My parents supported me in nearly everything I ever wanted to do.”

FFA made a big impact on his life, too.

“FFA helped define who I am today. I can never repay those in FFA who helped me. Yet now I can pay something forward.”

Receiving the first sheep production proficiency award sponsored by the Youngs family were Wyatt Jensen, Edgerton, first place; Brock Erickson, Stewartville, second place; and Anna Ridenour, Triton, third place.

Ag communication proficiency

Taking first place in agricultural communications proficiency was Cassidy Hoffman, Sleepy Eye.

Hoffman, currently serving as president of her FFA chapter, has been active with Minnesota Ag in the Classroom and farm safety events. She also has been responsible for posting chapter activities on social media.

Hoffman plans to attend Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall in the fall to study ag communications and graphic design.

Also recognized in ag communications proficiency was Adrienne Lipinski, Eden Valley Watkins, second; and Kaitlyn Lane Lorang, Cedar Mountain, third.