Ella Saal, from the Northwestern-Wayne FFA Chapter in West Salem, has been named a national finalist for the prestigious Dairy Entrepreneurship Agricultural Proficiency Award, which is given to only four FFA members nationwide in each proficiency area.
This remarkable accomplishment demonstrates Ella’s dedication, passion, and expertise in dairy farming. As a partner at Saal Sisters Dairy, she collaborates with her sisters to oversee daily operations such as milking, feeding, vaccination, and bedding. Ella has completed over 200 hours of Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) on the farm, gaining valuable life skills such as time management, responsibility, accountability, and problem-solving.
Throughout her SAE, she successfully raised and bred four cows and eleven heifers. Ella is currently a second-year student at The Ohio State University studying Animal Sciences, with plans to expand her dairy operation to include youth outreach programs. T
The Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who apply classroom knowledge through hands-on experience in areas ranging from agricultural communications to wildlife management. These awards, given at local, state, and national levels, celebrate students who are actively building successful careers in agriculture, and Ella exemplifies the FFA’s mission.
