FFA Proceedings 2002 - National FFA Organization

H.O. Sargent Awards
16
Sponsored by Monsanto as a special project of the National
FFA Foundation.
The H.O. Sargent Awards are
given annually to individuals
who develop ways to reach
underrepresented groups in order
to bring them the experience of
agricultural education and FFA.
Jonathon Goff, a member of
the Tampa Bay Tech Senior FFA
Chapter in Tampa, Fla., was pre-
Finalists for the H.O. Sargent Award were
honored on stage at the fifth general
session.
sented with the H.O. Sargent
member award at the 77th
National FFA Convention.
Being a student with a disibility,
Goff recognized the need to provide
other FFA members with
disabilities opportunities to participate
in events. Leading by
example, he has showed other
members that they can participate
in a variety of FFA activities,
regardless of their abilities.
Other finalists for the member
award included Molly Elizabeth
Fendrich, South Dakota; Laura
Stump, Arizona; and Amy
Czaja, Connecticut.
Fendrich is a 17-year-old
PHOTO BY ED ZURGA
member of McCook Central FFA
Chapter. She organized and
raised money for a cancer victim,
organized and raised money for
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
for two schools, and organized
activities for the residents in a
nursing home. Fendrich also
helped to organize a day to teach
youth about farm safety.
Stump is a member of
Highland FFA Chapter from
Gilbert, Az. She taught a lesson
in her agricultural leadership
class. She also began promoting
international agriculture in an
introductory level agriculture
class and kept one of her Buff
Orpington chicks in a special
education classroom.
In order to promote diversity
in her community, Czaja of the
Mattabeset FFA chapter organized
a series of events that helped
educate others about weather,
tick-borne diseases and lack of
feed supplies.
John William Elliot, a retired
agricultural teacher, was nominated
for the non-member award
due to his acceptance of females
in the high school agricultural
education environment. Almost
two decades before females could
officially be FFA members, Elliot
welcomed girls into his high
school agriculture classes.
This award was reestablished
in 1995 to recognize the New
Farmers of America’s (NFA)
place in FFAs history. Dr. H.O.
Sargent was instrumental in
helping form the organization.
Today, all students of all walks of
life are able to participate in FFA
events because of leaders who
worked to make a difference.
Jonathon Goff reached out to
members with disabilities and
was honored with the H.O.
Sargent award.
H.O. Sargent
Member Winner
Jonathon Goff
Tampa Bay Tech Senior FFA
Chapter
Florida
National Finalists
Amy Czaja
Mattabeset FFA Chapter
Connecticut
Molly Fendrich
McCook Central FFA Chapter
South Dakota
Laura Stump
Highland FFA Chapter
Arizona
Non-Member
National Recipients
John Elliot
Washington
PHOTO BY ED ZURGA