FFA MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN SC COOPERATIVE COUNCIL CONFERENCE
COLUMBIA, SC….State FFA President Jamie Hughes of Pickens, Vice President Ashley King of Manning and Vice President Ethan Sansbury of Latta, a freshman at Clemson University majoring in Agricultural Education, attended the SC Cooperative Council Annual Conference in Columbia recently, according to John W. Parris, State Director of Public Affairs with the SC FFA Association. Jamie Hughes gave the invocation and Ashley King led the Pledge of Allegiance. McBee FFA member and Clemson University Agricultural Education freshman Doug McCormick sang the National Anthem.
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Manning FFA Agri-Issues Team members with Advisor Michael Haynes (center), State FFA Vice President Ashley King, and Council President Todd Chapman at right. |
Manning High School FFA State Champion Agri-Issues Team members and Advisor Michael Haynes also attended and were recognized.
McBee FFA President Jacob Earle and Vice President Stephen Tyner attended and were recognized.
Strom Thurmond Technology Center FFA members W.C. Wall, State FFA Star Farmer and James Morgan, State FFA Star in Agribusiness, along with their Advisor Hugh Bland, attended and were recognized.
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W.C. Wall (left) with Hugh Bland, Andy Lowrey and James Morgan. |
The Cooperative Council sponsors the State FFA Star Farmer Award and Southern States Cooperative, a member of the council, sponsors the State FFA Star in Agribusiness Award. Mr. Bland and W.C. Wall addressed the participants and thanked them for their support of the FFA and agricultural education.
Former Agricultural Education officials and teachers recognized at the Conference included Frank R. Stover, Jr., Executive Director of the SC FFA Foundation and retired State Director of Agricultural Education, Pelion; Hugh McClimon, Chairman of the SC FFA Foundation and retired State Director of Agricultural Education, Anderson; Earl Frick, a member of the SC FFA Foundation and retired State Director of Agricultural Education, Florence; Jack Black, retired Agricultural Education teacher and former Executive Director of the SC Cooperative Council, Greenville; and G. Paul Jones, retired Agricultural Education teacher from Roebuck.
Clemson University Agricultural Education official Keith Cox who serves as the State FFA Executive Secretary; Associate State Director of Agricultural Education Steve Sanderson with Clemson University and John W. Parris, State Director of Public Affairs with the SC FFA Association, also attended and were recognized. Mr. Parris coordinated the arrangements for the FFA members and advisors to attend and participate in the conference program and luncheon at the Clarion Hotel in downtown Columbia.
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Stephen Tyner (left), Jacob Earle, Andy Lowrey and Doug McCormick. |
Andy Lowrey, Chief Executive Officer of AgFirst Bank in Columbia welcomed the FFA members and agricultural educators to the conference. Mr. Lowrey, a former FFA member, was awarded the Honorary American FFA Degree by the 477,000 member National FFA Organization last fall at the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.
The primary purpose of the SC Cooperative Council is to promote cooperative education. Todd Chapman, an official with the Newberry Electric Cooperative in Newberry, presided over the conference. Mrs. Marie Stiles of Lexington County serves as the Executive Director of the Council.
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Jamie Hughes, Ethan Sansbury and Doug McCormick with Todd Chapman. |
