Class of 2024 alum, Taleah Lusk, and current junior, Peyton Heermance, made Bret Harte history this past weekend at the 2025 California FFA Leadership Conference in Sacramento. Lusk became the 2025 Agricultural Proficiency Award state champion in poultry production, and Heermance the 2025 Agricultural Proficiency Award state champion in veterinary science. Lusk and Heermance join Kelsey Landreth, who was the first Bullfrog to become a proficiency award state champion in 2006 also in poultry production. Lusk and Heermance qualified to represent California in the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo scheduled to begin on October 29, 2025 in Indianapolis.
“Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through supervised agricultural experiences, have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers,” per the National FFA Organization. To view the list of 2025 California competitors and past state champions, visit https://www.calaged.org/event_type/state_convention/finalists.
Senior Nancy Sullivan was the runner-up in the 2025 Agricultural Proficiency Award in beef placement. Senior Steven Schimp was the section champion in swine placement. Lusk is currently attending Modesto Junior College studying agriculture. Sullivan plans to attend Yuba City College to study agriculture, and Schimp will begin a career in welding after graduation.
Learn more about Bret Harte FFA and the amazing things these Bullfrogs are doing at https://www.instagram.com/bretharteffachapter. Photo courtesy of Bret Harte FFA.