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Ag Student Receives 2009 DEKALB Award

Joshua Burns, son of Tim and Nadine Burns of Covington, was recently presented the school’s highest agricultural honor, the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award, sponsored by Monsanto Company. Burns, an Ag and Power Technology student at the JVS, received the award for excellence in academics, leadership and agricultural work experience. Additional recognition includes such honors as earning the State FFA Degree, State Ag. & Industrial Diagnostics Contest winner, Chapter FFA President, Upper Valley JVS Top Scholar award, and two years of perfect attendance at the JVS.

This year the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award celebrates its 62nd anniversary. Over these 62 years more than 162,000 high school seniors from across the country have received the Award, which has become a symbol for excellence and the school’s highest agricultural honor. In 2008, over 2,050 students from high schools in 48 of the 50 states were recognized with the Award.

As the winner of the 2009 Award, Joshua’s name will be recorded on a permanent plaque displayed at Upper Valley JVS.

Monsanto, a long-time supporter of agricultural education, FFA, 4-H and other farm youth organizations and initiatives, has sponsored the DEKALB Agricultural

Accomplishment Award, named for its brand of seed, since 1998. Monsanto is a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products that improve farm productivity and food quality.

Jeff Weeks is the Ag. and Power Technology instructor at Upper Valley JVS.