Five months ago, Kaleb Peak was a state champion in swine production placement proficiency.

Now, the Wellsville resident is looking to add a national title to his trophy case.

Peak was recently selected as a national finalist in the swine production placement proficiency. He will compete for first in the FFA National Convention on Nov. 1-4 in Indianapolis.

“I’m excited and looking forward to it,” Peak said. “I’ve put it on my calendar.”

The top four finishers in each agricultural proficiency category qualify for nationals. Matthew Ferrell of Quitman, Ga., John Buryl Neely of Woodbury, Tenn., and Mari Horwath of Stephenville, Texas are the other national qualifiers.

“It was really unexpected,” Peak said. “I wish the other candidates the best of luck. It’s kind of cool that the four of us have been selected.”

When the results were posted on the FFA website on Aug. 3, Peak finished second out of 23 students. Ferrell was first, Neely came in third and Howarth was fourth.

“I never really thought somebody from a little small town like me could be a national finalist, national winner or a state winner,” Peak said. “It’s amazing to me.”

Agricultural proficiency awards are given to FFA members who acquired skills that they use toward their future careers. There are four different proficiency award areas – entrepreneurship, placement, combined and agriscience research. Placement is a category in which a member has an SAE (supervised agricultural experience) that includes non-ownership, agriculturally-related paid or unpaid employment or volunteer work. Proficiency award winners will be announced on stage at the national convention.

Peak is currently a freshman at State Technical College in Linn and is majoring in construction technology. He graduated from Wellsville-Middletown High School in May.

At the Missouri FFA state convention in April at Columbia, Peak won the state award in swine production placement proficiency and was recognized as the Area 5 star in placement.

Peak was a member of the W-M FFA chapter all four years. He served as reporter, chaplain and assistant sentinel. He also worked at his family farm, where he ensures the health of over 8,000 hogs by overseeing their feed, vaccinations and treatment.

“I’ve been around hogs all my life,” Peak said. “Over the past four years, I really stepped up my responsibility in the involvement of hog barns. I gained a lot of knowledge.”

Peak credits W-M FFA advisers Emily Holbert and Audrey McDowell for his success.

“They really believed in me,” Peak said. “They knew I could do well. They pushed me to apply for those different awards.”

Peak said his friends and family members were pretty excited about his accomplishment.

“Everybody was supportive, was congratulating me and was wishing me luck in nationals,” he said.