Graves named as Minnesota FFA Star in Agribusiness

TJ Graves began his lawn care business by mowing his neighbors yard. He soon discovered there were other neighbors who also wanted their yards mowed. From that beginning, Graves has grown his business to include 28 customers and 47 properties, including commercial and seasonal properties.

The Minnesota FFA Association has named the Brainerd FFA member the 2014 Minnesota FFA Star in Agribusiness, one of the associations highest honors. Graves competed with three other finalists at the 85th Minnesota FFA Convention, April 27-29, in St. Paul.

In addition to mowing, his services now include snow removal. He added a truck equipped with a snow plow in 2012. Graves established his own website to promote new business and added a laptop and portable printer for his truck to print new contracts and invoice jobs that people request upon seeing his work in the neighborhoods he serves. Graves has invested his business earnings into new and updated equipment, and plans to continue expanding the business.

Graves served as Region II secretary this past year and on many chapter leadership committees. He has been a member of the Brainerd FFA Parliamentary Procedure team that competed in state for the last two years.

This fall, Graves plans include attending college in either heavy equipment operation or landscape construction and design.

His chapter adviser is Denise Reeser and his parents are Tom and Kathy Graves of Baxter.

Each year at the Minnesota FFA convention, 16 state finalists four in each category vie for the associations top awards: Minnesota FFA Star Farmer, Minnesota FFA Star in Agribusiness, Minnesota FFA Star in Production Placement and Minnesota FFA Star in Agri Science. These awards honor students who have developed outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through their supervised agricultural experience (SAE); demonstrated outstanding management skills; earned the Minnesota FFA Degree the Associations highest level of accomplishment; and met other agricultural education, scholastic and leadership requirements. Each finalist was interviewed by a panel of judges, who ultimately named the top candidate in each area. The winner was announced in an on stage convention ceremony and received a plaque and an award of $300. The runners-up also received plaques and $100 each.

Originally posted here:
Graves named as Minnesota FFA Star in Agribusiness