Super Kid: Proud to farm

All about agriculture: Andrew Salmon (pronounced sol-man) grew up on a 5-acre hobby farm near Silvana. Active as a kid in 4-H where he started out showing goats, he's now secretary of the Stanwood High School Future Farmers of America. Andrew plans to lead his FFA natural resources team to the national competition this month in Indianapolis.

Where to find him: The “ag compound” at the high school is filled with cool stuff like old manure spreaders, the FFA farm animal trailer, and a new solar panel that powers the nearby greenhouses and the aquaculture lab. Andrew is very proud of his school's agriculture department, which he believes to be the best in the county and one of the best in the region.

More education: Andrew has his heart set on attending Washington State University, and he already wears a WSU jacket that he picked up on sale last year at the state FFA convention in Pullman.

He plans to apply to Montana State University and the University of Kentucky as well. Andrew wants to study agricultural business management or go into education because he respects his own agriculture education teachers so much, he said.

Funding his education: Over the years, Andrew participated in the annual Puget Sound Junior Livestock Show and Auction, where he was able to get good prices for his beef and swine project animals and lots of encouragement from the show's sponsors. He also works at the Schuh Farms produce stand in Stanwood.

Why we need farms: “We can't do anything without farms. Our state is a top producer of many crops and farms are vital to our economy.”

All in the family: Colleen Salmon, 14, returned recently from the Puyallup Fair with her champion Suffolk sheep. Andrew said he's proud of his freshman sister.

His last name: No, it's not pronounced like the fish, but as part of his class work and prep for FFA team competition, Andrew checks the water quality of Church Creek in Stanwood to make sure the stream is in good shape for salmon.

Photo opportunity: Andrew's girlfriend is the granddaughter of a former Herald photographer, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Jerry Gay. Because of his acquaintance with the professional photographer, Andrew says photography is quickly becoming a favorite hobby.

His wheels: Andrew hopes to get his 1989 Chevy Cavalier running again soon.

A motto to live by: From Jim Dignam, a retired salesman, who helps coach the FFA agriculture sales team: “Look and do your best every day, because every day at least one person is judging you.”

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.