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SC FFA LEGISLATORS APPRECIATION DAY DRAWS RECORD ATTENDANCE

COLUMBIA, SC….A record breaking attendance of more than 1000 FFA members, advisors, parents, school administrators, government agency officials and state legislators attended the SC FFA-sponsored State Legislators Appreciation Day in Columbia on Wednesday, March 2, according to John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA organization.

 FFA members dressed in their traditional blue and gold jackets began arriving in Columbia at 8 AM for office visits with their respective legislators. The City of Columbia Police Department had bagged all of the parking meters around the State Capitol for the convenience of FFA members and their guests.

 The State FFA Officer Team and the Clemson University Collegiate FFA Officers held a Joint Breakfast at the Capital City Club. State Representative Ronald Townsend, Chairman of the House Education and Public Affairs Committee addressed the group.

 Beginning at 10 AM, the State FFA Officer Team and individual FFA chapter delegations were introduced to the House of Representatives and the Senate while they were in session.

 The State Legislators Appreciation Ceremony on the north steps of the State Capitol began at 11 AM with Ali Datko, a member of the B.J. Skelton FFA Chapter, Easley, singing the National Anthem. The Manning FFA Color Guard posted the Colors. A special musical presentation was provide by the Manning High School Chorus under the leadership of Mrs. Karen Washington, Chorus Director.

 Mrs. Rita Allison, Education/Legislative Advisor to Governor Mark Sanford, who read a Proclamation by the Governor praising FFA members and their advisors for the premier agricultural education programs in South Carolina secondary schools.

 State Representative Billy Witherspoon of Conway, Chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, also welcomed the group to Columbia and read a Joint Resolution passed by both houses of the SC General Assembly recognizing South Carolina’s FFA members and their advisors.

 Two South Carolina FFA members, Lauren Holden and Davis Peeler of the Crescent FFA Chapter in Anderson County, were presented the prestigious American FFA Degree by the State FFA Officer Team. This is the highest award available to an FFA member at the national level. They were also congratulated by Honorary American FFA Degree recipients State Representative Ronald Townsend, Chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee; State Representative Billy Witherspoon; State Senator Nikki Setzler, Lexington; State Representative Marty Coates of Florence, a former National FFA Officer; Dr. Laurie C. Lawson, Assistant to the Vice President for Public Service and Agriculture at Clemson University; Drefus Williams, retired agricultural educator, Sumter; Von P. Snelgrove, Chief of Conservation Districts with the SC Department of Natural Resources; James Ulmer, Agricultural Education Teacher at Lake Marion High School; Clark Woods, Agricultural Education Teacher at Hillcrest High School in Simpsonville; W. Pat Earle, Agricultural Education Teacher at McBee High School and President of the SC Agricultural Educators Association; Mrs. Frances Price, Chair of the SC Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, Gilbert; Joe Wilson, Agricultural Education Teacher at Aiken High School and Chairman of the SC FFA Association Board of Directors; Frank R. Stover, Sr., Executive Director, SC FFA Foundation, Pelion; Frank Sandifer, Agricultural Education Teacher at York; and John W. Parris, State Director of the SC FFA Office of Public Affairs.

State Senator Yancey McGill of Kingstree was presented the Honorary State FFA Degree along with J. Kenneth Rentiers, Jr., State Executive Director of the USDA Farm Service Agency; Hugh Caldwell, Secretary-Treasurer of the SC Soil and Water Conservation Society; Charles Mayfield, Principal of the Ware Shoals Junior High School and Timothy Deaton, a Safety Engineer from Kershaw. This is the highest award available to a friend and supporter of the FFA at the state level.

The Ceremony was presided over by State FFA President Jamie Hughes of Pickens; State Secretary Josh O’Rear of Aiken and Clemson University; State Vice President Jonathan Dorn of Calhoun Falls and Erskine College; State Vice President Jennifer Perkins of Myrtle Beach and Clemson University; and State Vice President Ethan Sainsbury of Latta and Clemson University. State Vice President Ashley King of Manning had to miss the event because of death in her family.

Doug McCormick, a member of the McBee FFA Chapter and a freshman at Clemson University sang “God Bless America” as the benediction.

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Questions or comments should be sent to John Parris (scffa@bellsouth.net)

Last Update: 03/08/2005