More than 20 agricultural teachers and college professors from throughout the U.S. recently met virtually to determine which FFA members and teams will compete for top honors in the 2025 National FFA Proficiency Awards.

Saray Madriz and Christopher Tornero of the Madera FFA chapter in Madera, CA have been named national finalists this year for their respective Agricultural Proficiency Award Areas. They each were named California State Champions in their award areas early this year and represented California in the National contest over the summer. Each state has the opportunity to send their state’s representative, and 4 projects are chosen as National Finalists. These four finalists will interview with industry professionals across the nation and find out the results on stage at the National FFA Convention in November.

Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), have developed specialized skills they can apply toward their future careers. Students compete in areas ranging from agricultural communications to wildlife management. Proficiency awards are also recognized at local and state levels and provide recognition to members exploring and becoming established in agricultural career pathways.

Saray Madriz is a finalist in the area of Agriculture Communications for her work with the Madera FFA Communications and hosting the SAE Showcase for California FFA. Christopher Tornero is a finalist in the area of Landscape Installation for his work at Tornero Landscape and his work building landscapes in the community.