FFA students honored as national champions

Posted 1/20/22

Two FFA students from Okeechobee won national honors in the FFA Agriscience competition.

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FFA students honored as national champions

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OKEECHOBEE — Two Okeechobee Future Farmers of America (FFA) members were recognized at the Jan. 20 meeting of the Okeechobee County Board of Commissioners.

At the meeting in the Historic Okeechobee County Courthouse, Jenna Larson and John Williamson II were recognized for being named the National Champions in the National FFA Agriscience Fair for Animal Systems, Division IV. The two were also recognized for their commitment in volunteer work and community service.

Larson and Williamson are both students in Okeechobee County involved in agriculture. For this national competition they worked together studying a gene in cattle that would help them better regulate heat. After being named winners in their category/division as well as the overall winners for their division on the state level, they were named national finalists and then competed in a virtual interview, where they were named in the top three to receive the final results at the national convention. On Oct. 28, 2021, at the national convention, both were recognized as national champions on stage during the Second General Session of the 94th National FFA Convention and Expo.

Okeechobee is the largest dairy county in Florida, said Larson. She said their study found the “slick hair” gene could mitigate heat stress in dairy cattle. The difference between cattle who have this gene and those who don’t is “equivalent to wearing a tank top vs. a full length coat in the summer months,” she explained.

 “You make Okeechobee proud,” said Commissioner David Hazellief.

FFA, Larson, Williamson, Okeechobee

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