Avery Ridgley made another trip to the Missouri FFA Convention on April 16.

This time, the Montgomery County graduate left Columbia with another state championship.

Ridgley was named the recipient of the Missouri FFA agricultural processing proficiency award during the second day of the state convention at Mizzou Arena. The Jonesburg resident was awarded for her work at her supervised agricultural experience program, which is her family’s business, Davis Meat Processing. Her SAE totaled 765 hours of work experience and $11,382 in earnings.

“Ag processing is a pretty big category when I was talking to other people,” Ridgley said. “There was another meat processor there. Somebody made goat soap and somebody baked soap. It was a pretty cool category to be in because it’s so broad.”

Ridgley is currently a freshman at Oklahoma State University. She said she was happy to make the 415-mile drive from Stillwater, Okla., to go to the state convention.

“It was fun to be at the convention one more time since I’m in college and not in FFA,” Ridgley said.

Ridgley won her second FFA state championship. When she was a sophomore, she won a state title in Division 2 Public Speaking.

Proficiency awards are given to FFA members who have been successful as agricultural entrepreneurs, employees or volunteers while gaining hands-on career experience.

Ridgley advanced to state competition by winning the area title in February. Three other MCHS students also advanced to state by winning area championships. They were Trice Roden (turf grass), Colby Ellis (diversified horticulture) and Karter Reagan (ag repair maintenance). Roden placed second in state competition. There were 46 proficiency award areas recognized at the state level.

“I love proficiency because I think they’re a great way to recognize FFA members for the work that they do,” Ridgley said.

At Davis Meats, Ridgley packaged and labeled products according to USDA guidelines, operated equipment such as heat seal and roll stock machines, stocked retail inventory and assisted customers. She also played a key role in helping customers, scheduling livestock for processing, taking detailed cutting orders and assisting with tagging and processing deer brought in by hunters.

Davis Meats, which is located in Jonesburg, focuses on custom livestock processing and retail meat sales, including beef, pork, deer, sheep and goats.

Ridgley, who graduated from MCHS in 2025, plans to transfer to the University of Missouri-Columbia this fall. She intends to pursue a career as a large animal veterinarian and continue working in agricultural processing while completing her education.

“I definitely do enjoy being closer to home,” Ridgley said. “I want to be a veterinarian, so if I could go to Mizzou and get a foot in there before I try to apply to vet school, that would be helpful.”

Ridgley was a member of the MCHS FFA chapter all four years and earned many honors. In her senior year, she was named barnwarming queen, qualified for state in speech competition and earned a state degree. She was selected to attend the HYMAX Academy when she was a freshman.

Ridgley served as an officer for three years. She was a vice president in her senior year.