MU Freshman serves on 2009 Missouri State Poultry Team

by Lauren Dye, posted Nov. 20, 2009

Classes, studying and work are part of a basic routine for most college students. But for one University of Missouri freshman, her routine also included preparing for a National FFA contest.

Heidi Davis, plant science freshman, is a member of the 2009 Missouri State Poultry team from Paris, Mo.. that attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis Oct. 20-24.

Davis has not only been tackling the challenges of being a college freshman and working 10 hours a week at campus greenhouses, but has also been spending hours each week preparing for nationals. Davis said on average she spent eight to 10 hours a week studying poultry materials on top of the 15 hours she was already studying for her classes.

“My grades were a lot lower because, first of all, it was a lot different from high school, and second of all, I was trying to balance a lot of different things,” Davis said.

Every Sunday afternoon, Davis drove back to Paris where she would practice with the other members of the team: Nathan Mooneyham, Matt Jeffers and Sarah Ray. Josh Bondy, Paris FFA adviser, said team members would cover all aspects of the contest on Sunday afternoons. Interior and exterior eggs, hens, broilers, chicken parts, nuggets and patties, a team activity and a written test comprise the National Poultry Contest.

“Heidi is an exceptional student and team member,” Bondy said. “Her strengths are in the test and presentation of reasons. As a recent MU graduate, I know the time constraints and pressures as an incoming freshman, and that coupled with studying for a national contest are very difficult, but Heidi excelled and we are all really proud of her.”

Having missed a week of school already from illness, Davis packed up again to participate in a week of traveling, registration, studying and competing in Indianapolis. Davis scored fourth out of 134 individuals from across the United States, leading her team to a fourth place national title.

“She’s a very study- and education-orientated person and works very hard and put everything she had into the contest, and it paid off,” said Sarah Ray, Paris High School senior.

Team member Nathan Mooneyham knew the struggles of trying to find time to study while working.

“Heidi was not only having to prepare for a national contest, but also being a college student while working,” said Mooneyham. “It was a lot, but she ended up being the top of the team.”

Davis credits not only the study skills she has learned, but also her interest in agriculture to her time spent participating in numerous contests throughout her FFA career.

“All the contests that I have done in high school sparked my interest to go into an agricultural field and pursue a degree in agriculture,” Davis said.

Davis enjoyed seeing the National FFA Convention from a different side than she had as a high school student and is glad she had this opportunity.

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