Diversified Crop Production Placement Example Application
FOR USE BEGINNING IN 2001 PLACEMENT KANSAS Proficiency CHAPTER #: KS0092 Place Label Here STATE: Member ID # KS Name of Proficiency Award Area 1. Name: Brett Ray Reiss 2. Date of Birth: 12/08/1983 3. Age: 18 4. Gender: X Male Female 5. Social Security #: 000-00-0000 6. Address: (street/r.r./box no.) Rte 1, Box 10 City: Somewhere State: KS Zip: 55555 7. Home Telephone number (including area code): (550) 555-5555 8. Name of Parents/Guardians 9. List Parents/Guardians Occupation Below: a. Father: Stan Reiss Reiss Farm Equipment Manager b. Mother: Cheri Reiss Reiss Farm Equipment Secretary 10. Complete FFA Chapter Name: Somewhere FFA 11. Name of High School: Somewhere High School 12. School Address: (street/rr./box no.) Rte 1, Box 24A School City: Somewhere State: KS School Zip: 55555 13. School Telephone Number (including area code): (555) 555-5555 14. Chapter Advisor(s): Wayne Powell 15. Year FFA Membership Began: 1998 16. Years of Agricultural Education Completed: 3.5 17. Years of Agricultural Education Offered (grades 7-12) in high school last attended: 4 18. Year in school at time of applying for the award: 12 19. If you have graduated from the high school, year graduated: 2002 20. State/National Dues paid? NO YES X We have examined this application and find that the records are true, accurate, and complete. We hereby permit for publicity purposes, the use of any information included in this application with the exception of the following: Candidate Signature Parent or Guardian Signature In addition, we certify the applicant has achieved a satisfactory record of scholastic achievement. Chapter Advisor Signature Superintendent or Principal Signature (indicate which) The information contained in this application has been substantiated by an actual visit to the site of the applicant's supervised agricultural experience program. Employer Signature (if applicable) State Supervisor, Ag Ed, Signature NOTICE: This application will not be returned by the National FFA Organization. Please make a copy for your records. Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/02/2003
I. Performance Review A. Getting Started in this activity: (15) 1. Briefly describe your SAE as it is related to this proficiency area. Describe how you started in this proficiency area. What interested and motivated you to begin? As a child I spent countless hours on combines, tractors, and other farm equipment. Throughout the years on my fa ther's farm, I have always been interested in all the technological advancements being made. I have always been interested in how yields can be improved as well. I have worked with Precision Farming for five years. I attended a John Deere Greenstar class with my older brother to learn more about the Precision Farming tools. This class got me interested in Precision Farming. When the principles of Precision Farming were new to us we started using a yield monitor and since then we have taken steps in using variable rate spraying and planting, along with parallel tracking. The information gained from using these tools have cut costs and increased returns. 2. When you were planning your supervised agricultural experience in this proficiency area, what 2 or 3 goals and objectives did you plan to achieve at this point in your development? Precision Farming is a very complex way to farm. There is a year-round process of testing soils, variable rate applying chemical and fertilizer according to soil test, variable rate planting and collecting data (harvest). My main goal and objective was to beocme more proficient with Precision Farming. I hoped to have been able to fully operate a Greenstar system. Furthermore, I wanted to become more knowledgeable of the new Precision Farming practices that could benefit our farm. I have grown with Precision Farming as technology has allowed. Instead of just using a yield monitor in our combines, we now also use GPS to variable rate apply seed, chemical, and fertilizer. Variable rate applictions has allowed me to cut costs on our family farm. When I began working, I wanted to cut input costrs and increase profits. Using Precision Farming has allowed me to accomplish this goal. B. Progress: 1. Describe any special advantages or disadvantages that had a major impact on your achievements in your supervised agricultural experience program. A major advantage I had was the opportunity of attending John Deere's Precision Farming Introduction workshop in Somewhere, Kansas. The classes taught me the skills needed to operate a Precision Farming system and how to interpret harvest data. It also gave me a chance to listen to ideas and practices that are being applied by other farmers. It also gave me a chance to listen to ideas that are being applied by other farmers to boost their yields. Another advantage I have had is the opportunity to start working with such systems and having hands on opportunities at an early age. Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/02/2003-2 -
I. Performance Review (continued) B. Progress (continued) 2. Briefly describe your placement in this proficiency area. (Include a description of the business/ farm, working conditions, size, number of employees, type of facilities, equipment available, etc.) I have grown up living and working on my father's farm all of my life. My father, Stan, farms 6,000 acres while managing a local John Deere store. In the summer, my brother and I are in charge of the custom cutting business. We have wheat with anywhere from 8 to 13 combines, making stops in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado. We started using yield monitors for our customers' benefit in 1996. We now have 5 Greenstar systems. The number of employees I work with varies from 15 to 30. 3. How has your position description and/or responsibilities changed during the time of your placement? The first year I started cutting wheat on our crew, I operated a 9600 c ombine. The next year I operated a combine equipped with a Greenstar yield monitor. Over time, I have steadily gained responsibilities such as planting and spraying. Now that we can variable rate apply seed and chemical I have become even more active on our farm. Precision Farming is showing that technology and good management practices can make farming more profitable. C. Analysis/Evaluation of Program 1. Describe your level of achievement and progress towards your goals (such as skills, scope, etc.) in this award area as related to the goals and objectives described on page 2, question 2. I have had the opportunity to work with precision farming for several hours and have accomplished many of my goals. My goals now are to be come more familiar with new technological advancements that are being made with the global positioning system. I want to further my skills using parallel tracking and variable rate planting, which are two new concepts. As of now, I farm 160 acres and plan to expand my production in future years. This past fall I harvested 60 acres of grain sorghum that yielded 60 bushels/acre. I felt that I would have had higher yields if I would have stri-tilled before planting instead of working the ground. This spring I plan to preserve moisture by striptilling my wheat stubble. 2. Describe the personal goals, educational goals, and career goals you would like to achieve in the next ten years. Ever since I was a kid I have dreamed of winning a state championship basketball or football game. I plan to continue working on my father's farm and harvest crew to finance my interests and education. I plan to enter college and major in Agri-business and Marketing. I hope to become a successful farmer and a community leader. Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/02/2003-3 -
II. Scope, Income and Expense Summary for : Placement and Research Experimentation Type Supervised Agricultural Experience Program (20) Major Job Title Total Hours Worked Gross Total Net Year Type of Work and/or Unpaid Paid Total Earnings Expenditures Earnings Activities completed (A) (B) (C)* (D) (E) (F)** Mo/Day/Yr Fall Harvest Combine Operator 3.0 104.0 107.0 $809 $110 $699 08/17/1998 to Somewhere Farm Equipment Dec. 31 Stan Reiss tractor work - variable rate 5.0 94.0 99.0 $693 $693 1998 fertilizer and chemical (Year) Totals for Year 1 8.0 198.0 206.0 $1,502 $110 $1,392 Jan 1, to Combine Operation for wheat and 3.0 500.0 503.0 $4,375 $120 $4,255 Dec. 31 corn harvest Somewhere Farm Equipment 1999 Planting, Spraying, Tractor work for 5.0 224.0 229.0 $2,500 $43 $2,457 (Year) Stan Reiss Totals for Year 2 8.0 724.0 732.0 $6,875 $163 $6,712 Jan 1, to Combine Operator for Somewhere 9.0 523.0 532.0 $4,564 $4,564 Dec. 31 Farm Equipment 2000 Spraying, Planting, and Tractor work 7.0 307.0 314.0 $3,526 $3,526 (Year) for Stan Name Totals for Year 3 16.0 830.0 846.0 $8,090 $0 $8,090 Jan 1, to Harvest operation for 756.0 756.0 $5,292 $5,292 Dec. 31 Somewhere Farm Equipment 2001 Farm operation 529.0 529.0 $3,938 $3,938 (Year) Totals for Year 4 0.0 1285.0 1285.0 $9,230 $0 $9,230 Jan 1, to Dec. 31 2002 (Year) Totals for Year 5 0.0 0.0 $0 $0 Jan 1, to Dec. 31 2003 (Year) Totals for Year 6 0.0 0.0 $0 $0 GRAND TOTALS Year (1+2+3+4+5+6) 32 3,037 3,069 $25,697 $273 $25,424 * Columns (A) plus (B) = (C) ** Columns (D) minus (E) = (F) Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/02/2003-4 -
III. Balance Sheet (5) Beginning Value Ending Value at End on Date of Last Completed ASSETS & INVESTMENTS Entered Ag (A) Record Year (B) 1. Current/Operating Assets a. Cash on-hand, checking and savings $1,563 $12,526 b. Cash value - bonds, stocks, life insurance $600 c. Notes & accounts receivable d. Total Current/Operating Inventory (all other current assets) $650 2. Total Current/Operating Assets (1a+1b+1c+1d) $1,563 $13,776 3. Non-Current/Capital Assets 4. Total Assets (2+3) $1,563 $13,776 LIABILITIES 5. Current/Operating Liabilities (notes payable) 6. Non-Current/Capital Liabilities 7. Total Liabilities (5+6) $0 $0 8. NET WORTH (4 minus 7) $1,563 $13,776 SUMMARY OF SOURCE AND USE OF FUNDS 9. Earnings from this proficiency area XXXXXXXXXXXXXX $25,424 10. Other SAE earning NOT from this area XXXXXXXXXXXXXX 11. Earnings from non-sae activities XXXXXXXXXXXXXX $700 12. Income other than earnings XXXXXXXXXXXXXX $540 13. Total Earnings (9+10+11+12) XXXXXXXXXXXXXX $26,664 14. Use of Funds XXXXXXXXXXXXXX a. Total educational expenses XXXXXXXXXXXXXX $750 b. Total other personal expenses XXXXXXXXXXXXXX $5,365 15. Total use of funds (14a+14b) XXXXXXXXXXXXXX $6,115 Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/02/2003-5 -
IV. Skills and Activities A. Skills (25) List your top six placement skills and give a brief description of each one and its contribution to the success of your supervised agricultural experience program. 1.Skill Number One. Year Skill Where Attained Student Hours 1998 Operating a Greenstar System. Somewhere Farm 500 Equipment, Inc. Description of Skill: I must be familiar enough with the system so that I can operate a combine while keeping an eye on the display screen. In order for me to assist the other Greenstar operators on our crew, it is essential that I have a thorough knowledge of the system. Operating also requires downloading the PC card which stores the harvested information. When planting time comes around we use the card in our planter also. Before we plant we put the card into the computer and designate a population for parts of the fields. We can increase population where high yielding potential soils are. 2. Skill Number Two. Year Skill Where Attained Student Hours 1998 Communicating with customers and employees Somewhere Farm 65 Equipment, Inc. Description of Skill: Communicating is the key to sharing data with farmers. It is also an essential skill to be able to talk to the employees I work with. I have to also call my father or brother when I am cutting in a different field to inform them on how the operation is going. 3. Skill Number Three. Year Skill Where Attained Student Hours 1998 Interpreting yield data Somewhere Farm 65 Equipment, Inc. Description of Skill: Knowing that today's farmer must be more profitable and efficient, I have learned how to interpret harvest data. When customers see their yield mlaps, they are amazed how 30 lbs of Nitrogen or higher populations can boost yields. I can also mark certain spots of the fields with "flags" while I'm cutting. This allows me to mark spots where there was a wash out or a patch of bindweed. This allows me to help farmers make more profitable agricultural decisions. Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/02/2003-6 -
IV. Skills and Activities (continued) A. Skills (continued) (25) List your top six placement skills and give a brief description of each one and its contribution to the success of your supervised agricultural experience program. 4.Skill Number Four. Year Skill Where Attained Student Hours 1998 Download PC cards Somewhere Farm 30 Equipment, Inc. Description of Skill: All of the harvested data is stored on a PC chip. It collects up to 250 hours of data. I try to download the information onto our laptop computer every 150 hours. After I have dowloaded the information, I can print of fyield maps that show the yield throughout the field. 5. Skill Number Five. Year Skill Where Attained Student Hours 1999 Calibrating a yield monitor Somewhere Farm 20 Equipment, Inc. Description of Skill: To get accurate yields the calibration factor must be very accurate. To callibrate you must cut a bin full and send it to get weighed. You then change the weight that is displayed on the screen to the weight the grain ticket says. You have to divide the differences and multiply by 100 to get the percentage error. 6. Skill Number Six. Year Skill Where Attained Student Hours 1998 Communication Somewhere Farm 6 yrs. Equipment, Inc. Description of Skill: Communication is the key to a smooth operation. Through the years I have gained valuable communication skills working with a large number of people. I have to be able to communicate with our customers as well. Mistakes can cost several dollars and with communication skills, mistakes can be limited. Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/02/2003-7 -
IV. Skills and Activities (continued) B. Activities (15) List your top three placement activities and give a brief description of each one and its contribution to to the success of your supervised agricultural experience program. 1.Activity Number One. Year Activity Where Attained Student Hours 1999 Applying informations gained from precision farming. Somewhere Farm 90 Equipment, Inc. Description of Activity: Now that technology is available we have started using more advanced systems of Precision Farming. We now use variable rate seeding and spraying with parallel tracking. The information gained from the past harvests help us make more profitable decisions. Where the low yielding spots were, we can variably apply more seed or fertilizer to increase yields in that area. Parallel tracking cuts costs by limiting the overlapping of farm tools. The technologies have cut costs and increased yields. 2. Activity Number Two. Year Activity Where Attained Student Hours 199? Operation of farm equipment Somewhere Farms 900 Description of Activity: Driving tractor, combine and other farm equipment equipped with Greenstar system is very easy. I have driven several hours and can operate while driving with ease. It has helped me b ecome a more proficient worker. 3. Activity Number Three. Year Activity Where Attained Student Hours 2000 Increasing yields Somewhere Farms 75 Description of Activity: In 1998, I cut a field for a neighbor farmer with a combine equipped with a yield monitor. The next year I rented that same ground and I variable rate applied fertilizer and seed. It was the first year I farmed my own ground. Precision Farming requires years of data before you can get a good profile of the land. I was very pleased with my crop and in this past spring I cut my fertilizer bill by $350. I hope to see if my returns are higher in the next year. Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/02/2003-8 -
V. Supporting Documentation A. Resume' Attach a one or two page resume' that includes the following sections: a. Name/address/phone number/ffa chapter b. Career objective c. Education d. FFA leadership activities /awards e. School leadership activities/awards f. Community leadership activities/awards g. Professional associations h. Other accomplishments i. References (6) B. Employer or Instructor's Statement (2) The applicant's most recent employer or agriculture instructor should evaluate and submit a maximum of one page report of the progress the student has made in developing the skills and competencies necessary for success in: C. Supporting Pictures Submit a maximum of six photographs, no larger than 3 1/2" x 5" or 4"x 6", with a brief caption (50 words or less) for each. (The National FFA Organization reserves the right to retain and use the photographs for publicity purposes.) D. Personal Page Attach one page of additional information, of your choice, supporting your application for this area. (i.e.. Newspaper clippings, additional statements from employer, student work, etc.) (10) (2) Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/02/2003-9 -
Checklist for Agricultural Placement Proficiency Applications Award Area: Name: Brett Ray Reiss Local State Advisor Advisor Circle "Y" if the Statement is "YES" and "N" if the Statement is "NO". Y N Y N 1. Applicant has been an active FFA member for each year covered by this application. Cover page, Line 20. (Please consult the local & state copy of membership roster for each year.) Y N Y N 2. Applicant has included his/her Social Security Number, Cover page, Line 5. Y N Y N 3. Applicant has been out of high school for no more than one year. Cover page, Line 19. Y N Y N 4. Applicant has graduated and has completed at least three full years of agriculture, or all of the agriculture offered at the school last attended, Cover page, Line 16. Note: Applicants that are still in high school at the time of applying are eligible to participate at all grade levels. Y N Y N 5. Applicant has in operation and has maintained records to substantiate an outstanding supervised agricultural experience program through which exhibits comprehensive planning, managerial and financial expertise, Pages 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. Y N Y N 6. The total hours that a student list on Page 4, Section II, are greater than or equal or equal to the hours listed in either the "Skills" portion of Section IV. Pages 6 and 7 or the "Activities" portion of Section IV. Page 8. Y N Y N 7. Applicant has included no more than a two page resume. Y N Y N 8. Applicant has included no more than a one page written evaluation by the most recent employer or agriculture instructor describing the progress that the applicant has made in developing the skills and competencies necessary for success within the award area in which they are applying. Y N Y N 9. Applicant has included a maximum of six photographs with captions containing less than 50 words each. Y N Y N 10. Applicant has included a maximum of one page (maximum size 8 1/2" x 11") of additional information. (This may NOT include the following: Video Tapes; Computer Disk; Cd ROM's; DVD's; etc.) Y N Y N 11. The Application is properly signed by the applicant, parent or guardian, chapter advisor, school superintendent or principal, and submitted to the State FFA Advisor. Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/02/2003-10 -
VI. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION C. Supporting Pictures (continued) Brett Ray Reiss Place Scanned or Digital Photo In This Text Box! PHOTO # 1 The GPS receiver is essential for yield maps. Signals from satellites are sent to the position receiver. The location, along with yield data is stored on the PC card. I am mounting the new receiver on the bin extension of one of our new 9750 combines. Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/30/2003 PHOTO #
VI. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION C. Supporting Pictures (continued) Brett Ray Reiss Place Scanned or Digital Photo In This Text Box! PHOTO # 2 This is the Spraystar System equipped on our 4700 John Deere sprayer. While I am filling up with fertilizer to top dress and chemical for spraying green bugs. I made a few adjustments on the display screen. Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/30/2003 PHOTO #
VI. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION C. Supporting Pictures (continued) Brett Ray Reiss PHOTO # 3 During the winter months, after harvest data has been collected, my father, brother and I evaluate our yield maps. We compare the low yielding areas with our s oil maps to see where we are lacking nutrients. We can apply more seed or fertilizer as both maps indicate. Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/30/2003 PHOTO #
VI. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION C. Supporting Pictures (continued) Brett Ray Reiss Place Scanned or Digital Photo In This Text Box! PHOTO # 4 Parallel tracking uses satellites in space to determine a receiver's position on earth. This tractor is equipped with the system. Parallel tracking uses those satellites to help the operator keep a straight full-width path. This eliminates overlaps of tillage equipment and chemical burns. Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/30/2003 PHOTO #
VI. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION C. Supporting Pictures (continued) Brett Ray Reiss PHOTO # 5 PHOTO UNAVAILABLE AT TIME OF SCANNING. Variable rate planting allows you to v ary planting populations throughout a field. Before planting, we program the PC card so that the planter automatically plants a lower population on the corners of our center pivots and a higher population where the sprinkler waters. Now you don't have to plant your center pivot, then go back and plant corners at a lower population. Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/30/2003 PHOTO #
VI. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION C. Supporting Pictures (continued) Brett Ray Reiss PHOTO # 6 PHOTO UNAVAILABLE AT TIME OF SCANNING. To view your yield maps you must download your harvest data off the PC chip. Yield maps like the one on the following page can be printed off. We use a Gateway computer with a special PC card slot. Our House Enterprises (KS ) 01/30/2003 PHOTO #
PERSONAL PAGE UNABLE TO SCAN NEWSPAPER ARTICLE SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION.