State FFA President Jamie Hughes speaks at Presentation of Flowers Ceremony
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS PROVIDE FLOWERS FOR STATE HOUSE GROUNDS
COLUMBIA, SC…..Agricultural Educators and FFA members from high schools throughout South Carolina donated approximately 400 flats of spring bedding plants to beautify the State House grounds at a recent ceremony in Columbia, SC, according to John W. Parris, State Director of Public Affairs with the SC FFA.
The Presentation of Flowers for the State House grounds is an annual cooperative project of South Carolina Agricultural Educators and FFA members. The plants are grown by students in Agricultural Education Department greenhouses as part of their hands-on training in Horticulture, Greenhouse Management or Landscape Technology.
 |
Dignitaries in attendance at the Ceremony. |
Participants in the ceremony included Pat Black, Horticulture Teacher at Branchville High School, who presided; W. Patrick Earle, President of the SC Agricultural Educators Association, McBee High School; State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson; Larry Boyleston, an official with the State Department of Agriculture; State FFA President Jamie Hughes and Ashley King, Vice President of the SC FFA. Dennis Haigler, Horticulturalist with the Division of General Services of the Budget and Control Board, coordinated arrangements for the plant display on the State House steps.
In accepting the plants on behalf of the State Budget and Control Board, Mr. Patterson commended the Agricultural Educators and FFA members for their skill in producing the beautiful plants and thoughtfulness in making them available for landscaping the State House grounds.
 |
Larry Boyleston (left), an Official with the State
Department of Agriculture;
W. Pat Earle,
State Treasurer Grady L. Patterson, Jamie Hughes and Pat Black |
The event was reported by the Associated Press, Columbia’s WLTX-TV and WOLO-TV stations.
The mission of the FFA 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.
 |
 |
 |
Pat Black, Agricultural Education Teacher at Branchville High School, presided at the Ceremony |
W. Pat Earle, President of the SC Agricultural Educators Association and McBee High School FFA Advisor, addressed the Ceremony | Part of the crowd at the Ceremony |
