Champaign Works
  • Home
  • Jobs
    • Job Openings
    • Internships
    • Job Shadow
    • Post A Job
  • News
    • What's Happening
    • Share Good News
  • Volunteer
    • Get Involved
    • Share Volunteer Opportunities
  • Students
    • Student Center
    • Internships
    • Job Shadow
  • Education
    • Resources
  • About
    • Champaign Works
    • Where We Work
    • Where We Learn
    • Where We Play
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Champaign County on Facebook!
    • CW Advertise

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CHAMPAIGN COUNTY?

UHS FFA Leads to Career Success

11/10/2021

 

UHS grad started life goals early

Urbana FFA Justin Preece
During Preece’s senior year, he took on a project of restoring a 1951 Farmall H that was donated to the chapter by a former Urbana Ag teacher. Submitted photos.
Justin Preece UHSPreece was awarded the Champaign County FFA boy of the year award at the 2021 fair. Submitted photos.

From Urbana Daily Citzen

A solid Future Farmers of America background has led to early life success for a local graduate.

Justin Preece, a 2020 Urbana High School graduate, participated in the Urbana FFA program for five years. He joined in the 8th grade when Urbana had a middle school program. Over the years, Preece has been active with FFA and in the community, accomplishing many difficult tasks.

The commitment to learning has paid off with a career and national recognition.
​
Preece won the state proficiency area of Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Job Placement in a recent competition. His application then advanced on to national and he was named to the final 4. He then went through an interview process for the judges to select a national winner. Preece was announced on stage with the other finalists on Thursday, October 28.
“As a part of the Ag program, students are required to have a supervised agricultural experience. Justin chose to get a job as his project and started working at Farmer’s Equipment in Urbana his freshman year,” said FFA Advisor Mallory Zachrich. “He started as a basic helper doing simple tasks like cleaning, taking out trash, sweeping floors. From there he flourished with his passion for equipment and mechanics. Justin observed veteran mechanics, took on small tasks, gained experience and trust and took on more and more responsibilities.”

After graduation, Preece attended the Hobart Institute of Welding on several scholarships and earned his welding certifications in 10 months.
Preece explained the steps to success in a recent interview.

“My SAE (supervised agricultural experience) project is working at Farmers Equipment in Urbana,” Preece told Brownfield Ag News for America. “I started working there as a freshman in high school. Over the years I got more and more tasks. It grew from me cleaning, to me assembling new augers and working on new combines. After graduating, I got a full-time position at Farmers Equipment. Now I am the lead technician for our Kubota line. As it goes on, I have learned more and more.”

Preece said his grandfather’s John Deere 3020 sparked his interest as a young child.

“Being around that atmosphere, I always wanted to stick to it. It is what I grew up around,” he said.

According to Zachrich, Preece was extremely active in the FFA chapter at Urbana. He participated in numerous career development competitions, attended several leadership conferences and conventions, served on planning committees, served as an officer and finished out his senior year as the chapter president.

Preece participated in the calf scramble at the Champaign County Fair and showed his calf in 2019.

During Preece’s senior year, he took on a project of restoring a 1951 Farmall H that was donated to the chapter by a former Urbana Ag teacher.

“His hard work has provided the chapter with a beautiful tractor to use at events like Farm Day to give elementary students hay rides and at the annual homecoming parade,” said Zachrich.

Preece was awarded the Champaign County FFA boy of the year award at the 2021 fair.
    Champaign Works job board
    Share Your News
    Browse Jobs
    Volunteer!
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Agriculture
    Aviation
    Education
    Food Scene
    Fun
    Fun Things To Do
    Government
    Health-wellness
    History
    Key-industries
    Local Arts
    Non Profit
    Recreation
    Senior Citizens
    Small Business
    Sports

    Archives

    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019

    RSS Feed

Picture
Champaign Works
​40 Monument Square
​ Suite 306
Urbana, Ohio 43078
Picture
Picture
NEWS
JOBS
VOLUNTEER
STUDENTS
EDUCATION
​CONTACT
Champaign Works is supported by the Champaign Economic Parternship. Learn more at CEPOhio.com.
​
All drone photography courtesy of Jassen Dobyns of UAVisions LLC.
​
​Site powered by Berry Digital Solutions, LLC
​
Champaign County, Ohio
  • Home
  • Jobs
    • Job Openings
    • Internships
    • Job Shadow
    • Post A Job
  • News
    • What's Happening
    • Share Good News
  • Volunteer
    • Get Involved
    • Share Volunteer Opportunities
  • Students
    • Student Center
    • Internships
    • Job Shadow
  • Education
    • Resources
  • About
    • Champaign Works
    • Where We Work
    • Where We Learn
    • Where We Play
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Champaign County on Facebook!
    • CW Advertise