AMBOY — Ashley Althaus was selected as the District FFA Proficiency Winner in Agriculture Education. Althaus is a member of the Amboy FFA Chapter of the Illinois Association FFA.  Illinois FFA recognizes students in fifty different areas based on their work-based learning, also known as Supervised Agricultural Experiences or SAE. FFA members who demonstrate outstanding agricultural skills and competencies through record keeping, leadership, and scholastic achievement may be considered for this award. SAEs allow students to learn by doing by either owning and operating an agricultural business, working or serving an internship at an agriculture-based business or conducting an agriculture-based scientific experiment and reporting results.

Althaus was selected as the District 1 Winner by a committee of agriculture industry representatives and teachers knowledgeable in this work-based area. Althaus is the daughter of Steve and Deb Althaus from Sublette.

Althaus has worked at Woodhaven Lakes for two years in the nature center. She coordinates daily activities for visiting families and children. In addition, this school year she is the Discovery Ag teacher at Amboy Junior High. Each day she visits eighth grade students and leads them through lessons about agriculture and the world around them.

Receiving this honor now makes Althaus eligible to compete in the State FFA Awards Selection process in Urbana-Champaign on March 21, 2020. 

Althaus has been involved in the other agriculture education and FFA activities attending numerous conferences and conventions as well as serving as the vice president of the Amboy FFA Chapter and Section 2 FFA.

Althaus will receive plaques for her accomplishments. These plaques are made possible by gifts by individuals, businesses, corporations and organizations through the Illinois Foundation FFA.