Cameron Gomer of the Lakeland Future Farmers of America chapter was recently recognized as the state winner in the FFA’s Proficiency Award Program.

Gomer’s entry was in the category of Agricultural Mechanics: Repair and Maintenance — Entrepreneurship. He is the son of Lance and Kim Gomer.

The FFA’s Proficiency Award Program recognizes and rewards students for work done in their Supervised Agricultural Experience project.

Students perform work on a job or at their home and keep records of the work in a student record book. These records are then transferred onto FFA award applications, which are then submitted for judging, first at the local level, and then at the area and state level. Students can enter one of 49 different award areas in agricultural education.

Gomer’s work in agricultural mechanics centered on the work he performed in the garage at his home, where he could be found working on cars, trucks, tractors and lawn and garden equipment.

He started working with his father and grandfather at an early age and has developed his hobby into nearly a full-time job.

As the state winner, Gomer received a plaque and a check for $250. His application received a bronze rating at the national level. His award was sponsored by Briggs and Stratton.

Two Lakeland FFA members were also recognized as area winners in their categories.

Abby Botdorf, daughter of Jeff and Tina Botdorf, was recognized in Equine Management and Katarina Mehalko, daughter of Curtis and Kim Mehalko, was recognized in the area of Home and/or Community Development.

Botdorf and Mehalko both received $25 checks in recognition of their accomplishments.

The Future Farmers of America is a student organization made up of students enrolled in agricultural education classes. It has approximately 10,000 members in Virginia and around 600,000 members at the national level.