Hendrik Feenstra is the youngest person to pass the American Society of Agronomy’s Certified Crop Advisor exam.
The 12-year-old’s father, Jack, said being the youngest CCA was something his son identified as a goal from an early age.
“Kids say lots of things, and maybe I promised he could take the test, a couple of years ago. I suppose I did, but likely didn’t think he’d do it,” Jack said.
Jack and Annemarie Feenstra farm and run an Agri-Trend Agrology crop advisory business in southern Alberta near Monarch.
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When Hendrik’s mother decided in December she would take the rigorous CCA agrology exam, Hendrik said he wanted to do it, too. Due to the earlier promise, his father said that if he passed an older version of the test, he could study and challenge the CCA exam for real.
“I passed Dad’s test,” Hendrik said.
“So my mom and I studied real hard for two months, took a short (preparation course) and we took it in early February. And we both passed.”
Alberta agrologist Chris Paterson said it is estimated that only half the adults who take the CCA test pass.
“I’ve seen this young fellow at field days and other events for a few years,” Paterson said.
“Last year at a Brandon field event he dug up a plant, held it up to me and said, ‘look at all the advantageous roots.’ I hadn’t heard that term since university. I’m not surprised he passed the test.”
Annemarie said in all other respects Hendrik is an average Grade 7 student and farm boy who keeps sheep and likes to hang around with his father in the field.
