National finalist in FFA program
INDIANAPOLIS ó Evan James Clifton of West Rowan FFA chapter was named a national finalist in the Floriculture ó Entrepreneurship /Placement Proficiency award program in July. Four finalists will compete to be the national winner during the 82nd National FFA Convention Oct. 21-24 in Indianapolis.
Proficiency awards recognize FFA members who excelled as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while they gained hands-on career experience. Floriculture ó Entrepreneurship /Placement is one of 47 FFA proficiency award categories at local, state and national levels. The proficiency award program is sponsored by Bayer Environmental Science and National FFA Foundation.
Each finalist will receive a plaque and $500. The winner will receive an additional $500 during a ceremony at the national FFA convention.
When Clifton, of Woodleaf, was 13, he began working at The Garden Greenhouse, a nursery/landscaping shop owned by his stepfather. His first day, a customer asked him a question, and he froze.
Ever since, he has made it his mission to learn everything there is to know about plants and to improve his customer service skills. The hard work has paid off. At 17, he is now one of The Garden Greenhouse’s top employees. He has been helped along the way by his parents, Nancy Sherrill and Hugh Clifton, and by his FFA advisors, Jason Chester and Clark Adams.