Angels Camp, CA — A senior high school student is receiving national recognition from the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization.
Bret Harte’s Peyton Heermance earned special honors last week at the National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis when he was declared the 2025 National FFA Agricultural Proficiency in Veterinary Science Champion.
“Peyton’s achievement as a National FFA Proficiency Champion in Veterinary Science is monumental for the Bret Harte Bullfrogs,” said Scott Nanik, superintendent. “He is the first Proficiency Champion from our school to reach this national pinnacle. His dedication and passion have truly set a new standard for excellence.”
While Heermance is the first Bullfrog to become a National FFA Proficiency Champion, he also joins the elite few who are National Champions, such as Elaine Jordan ’13 in First High Poultry Judging and the 2010 Poultry Team comprised of Trevor Airola, Amie French, Clay Kruse, and Breanna Roque.
“After Peyton qualified for Nationals in April, he attacked the application with enthusiasm and great attention to detail as we knew he had a skillset that new students his age possess,” shared Jackson Sawyer, Bret Harte FFA Chapter Advisor. “This year-long project which included record book preparation, application drafts, and interview readiness, Peyton remained coachable at every level and worked incredibly hard to tell the story of his project and it all paid off.”
Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through supervised agricultural experiences, have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers.
-information and quotes for this story were gathered by Brett Harte High School FFA Chapter Reporter Mina Russell-Choi
