Star Student and Teacher program

Sumter County High School senior Joan Tovar-Martinez was recently named a national finalist for the Future Farmers of America’s “Grain Production Proficiency Award.” Tovar-Martinez is the first student in the history of the Sumter County FFA to reach the national level in any proficiency award category. He is one of only four finalists in the nation. The FFA’s agricultural proficiency award honors student members who have developed specialized skills in a particular category, skills which may later be applied in pursuing a career in the industry. Every year students from around the United States compete for proficiency awards in nearly 50 categories ranging from agricultural communications to wildlife management.