Mt. Vernon Senior Jackson Ritter Named National FFA Finalist

Mt. Vernon High School senior Jackson Ritter, Mt. Vernon’s FFA President and Region VI Director for Indiana FFA, has been named a National FFA Finalist in the Swine Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency.

Jackson is the first student in Mt. Vernon FFA history to reach the National FFA Proficiency Contest through his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).

FFA Proficiency Awards recognize students for their accomplishments and skills developed through their SAE. Jackson’s project focuses on his swine operation, where he manages his pigs as a business and makes decisions involving breeding, feeding, health care, and marketing.

As part of the competition, Jackson spent approximately 20 hours completing his proficiency application. He also worked with industry experts who reviewed his application and provided feedback before it was submitted.

Jackson earned first place at the District VIII FFA level before advancing to the Indiana state competition, where he again earned first place. His state victory qualified him to submit his application for national consideration.

At the national level, applications are evaluated and receive a Gold, Silver, or Bronze rating. The top four students in each proficiency area are then selected as national finalists. Jackson was selected as one of the four finalists in the Swine Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency.

“Jackson has put a lot of work into managing his operation and documenting his experiences in his proficiency application. We were beyond proud of his accomplishment of not only earning first place at district and state, but also for his leadership and development of his business and the positive impact in our community. He is an incredible and very dedicated entrepreneur, and we are so happy for his national recognition," shared Lucinda Blair, MVHS FFA staff sponsor.

Jackson Ritter was recognized at the National FFA Convention this past weekend as a national finalist in the Swine Production Entrepreneurship Proficiency. Jackson placed in the top four nationally. His accomplishment marks an important milestone for Mt. Vernon FFA and highlights the opportunities available to students through agricultural education, hands-on experience, and leadership. We are proud of the dedication and leadership he has demonstrated throughout his FFA career. Mt. Vernon celebrates his national placement!