Jantz earns Dairy Production Entrepreneurship State FFA Proficiency Award
TULSA, Okla. — Haylee Jantz (middle) of the Cherokee FFA Chapter captured first-place honors in the 2024 Oklahoma FFA Dairy Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award area. Drs. Cheryl and Eric DeVuyst congratulate Jantz as well as Addison Bailey (second from left) of the Crescent FFA Chapter and Cora Sullivan (left) of the Lawton FFA Chapter during the 98th Oklahoma FFA Convention on May 8.
Addison Bailey of the Crescent FFA Chapter and Cora Sullivan of the Lawton FFA Chapter earned second- and third-place honors, respectively.
Jantz raises and shows Brown Swiss heifers as her supervised agricultural experience. Her breeding herd consists of three former show heifers who are due to calve in the spring of 2024. Jantz has participated in the Dairy Cattle Evaluation Career Development Event, and she credits this event with her knowing how to select structurally sound cattle. She has also gained knowledge about the importance of genetics in her herd, where she knows an animal’s pedigree is vital in the show industry.
“What I have learned over time is that feeding needs and requirements are different for every animal and are changed frequently,” Jantz said. “I am now fully responsible for looking at my heifers and making informed decisions on feed changes to meet the needs of the heifer.”
The dairy production entrepreneurship proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience related to using best management practices available to produce and market dairy cattle and products efficiently.
The Cherokee junior is the daughter of Kevin and Jami Jantz. Her agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor is Christy Snider.
The award is sponsored on the state level by Pieter and Anita Van der Laan, Dairy Max and Drs. Eric and Cheryl DeVuyst in memory of Eugene and Cecilia Sinn. Drs. Eric and Cheryl DeVuyst provide a $1,000 state winner scholarship in memory of Eugene and Cecilia Sinn.
FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education division in the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education system. With more than 29,670 members and 366 chapters, the Oklahoma FFA Association is the fifth-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.