Submitted Photo/Clarendon Citizen - East Clarendon FFA Members Victoria Floyd and Alexus Watford receive the Bronze National Chapter Award for their chapter at the state FFA convention at Clemson University.
ECHS FFA wins state awards
Members of East Clarendon High School’s FFA Chapter received several awards at the South Carolina FFA State Convention held June 6-8 at Clemson University.
ECHS’ FFA received the Bronze National Chapter Award. The National Chapter Award program recognizes FFA chapters that successfully complete an annual program of activities, which includes a series of activities designed to encourage its members to grow as individuals, to work as part of a team and to serve others.
ECHS FFA members Dylan Duncan and Nick Perry were awarded state degrees, given to the top members of a State FFA Association. Some of the requirements included: demonstrating leadership ability by performing 10 parliamentary law procedures, giving a six-minute speech on a topic relating to FFA or agriculture, serving as an FFA officer, committee chairperson or committee member. Candidates also had to have earned and invested at least $1,000, or have worked at least 300 hours outside of scheduled class time on FFA activities. They also had to complete at least 25 hours of community service in a minimum of two different activities and had to participate in at least five different FFA activities above the chapter level.
Duncan received the state’s Emerging Agriculture Technology Proficiency Award. Duncan also received the South Carolina FFA State Star in Agricultural Placement award. Finalists in each award category had to have mastered skills in agricultural production, finance, management and/or research. Duncan is eligible to compete for national honors in both of these categories.
Bert Beasley, ECHS agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, was granted the SC FFA Honorary State Degree, the highest honorary degree the FFA association awards. The purpose of the degree program is to recognize individuals who have rendered outstanding service to the state agricultural education program. Beasley served as president of the South Carolina Agricultural Educators Association for 2011-2012.
ECHS’ FFA was presented with a $1,200 check for Duncan and Beasley to attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Oct. 24-27.
The National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 540,379 student members as part of 7,489 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
