Kitten wins FFA National Ag Proficiency award

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

Rachyl Kitten, 2021 Slaton High School Valedictorian and member of the FFA, received the National Agriculture Proficiency Award for Agricultural Processing Proficiency during the 94th annual National FFA Convention and Expo Oct. 28 in Indianapolis, Ind.

The award honors FFA members who through supervised agricultural experiences developed specialized skills they can apply toward their future careers.

Kitten said she was honored to win such a prestigious award. “Having the honor of being a national finalist for the Agricultural Processing proficiency was a huge blessing. It’s hard to put into words the gratitude I have for Slaton FFA and its ag teachers,” she said.

Her project was making her own line of swine feed, using corn grown on her family’s farm. “It all started back in eighth grade when my brothers and I were showing pigs and we wanted to cut the cost of feed down,” Kitten said. “I worked with my father to come up with a ration to make our own feed and Kitten Farm Feeds was started.

“Owning and operating Kitten Farm Feeds allowed me to gain a new horizon of skills that I can take with me throughout my career. Using available resources I was able to work out a plan to make my own swine feed to cut down feed costs.”

She said attending the National Convention was also an experience she’d never forget. “Getting to experience National FFA Convention in person was such an amazing experience. Seeing the waves of blue corduroy jackets from all over the country was something I thought I would never experience,” she said.

For more information, please read the Thursday edition of The Slatonite.