Steve McCannon, at left, with Stephen Tyner, Pat Black, Senator Larry Grooms and Grady Patterson
SC FFA MEMBERS AND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATORS CONTRIBUTE FLOWERING PLANTS TO LANDSCAPE STATE HOUSE GROUNDS
COLUMBIA, SC…FFA members and Agricultural Educators from throughout South Carolina contributed nearly 400 flats of spring bedding plants to landscape 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 Organization.
National FFA Vice President Stuart Joy of Artesia, New Mexico, representing the 490,000-member National FFA Organization, addressed participants in attendance at the ceremony which was held in the first level Rotunda of the State House.
 |
Dr. Louis B.Lynn, at left, Trustee of Clemson University, with National FFA Vice President Stuart Joy; Pat Black, Chair of the Presentation of Flowers Ceremony; and Stephen Tyner, State FFA President admire the flowers on display at the State House. |
M. Pat Black, Vice President of the SC Agricultural Educators Association and Horticulture Science Instructor at Branchville High School, presided at the event. Other program participants included State FFA Officers Stephen Tyner, President, McBee; Emily Waggoner, Secretary, Pendleton; Jacob Powers, Vice President, Lexington; Michael Burdette, Vice President, Calhoun Falls; Shane Grice, Vice President, Warrenville; and Jason Gore, Vice President, Loris.
Manning FFA members Lane Ham, De Quan Williams, Allison Ragin and Mercedes Johnson served as the Color Guard and Sasha Stukes sang the National Anthem.
Kevin Sox of Lexington, President of the Clemson University Collegiate FFA Organization, addressed the group and recognized officials from Clemson University.
State Agricultural Educators Association President Steve McCannon of Easley’s B.J. Skelton Career Center also addressed the group and recognized the Agricultural Educators present.
The Presentation of Flowers is an annual project of the SC FFA Association and the SC Agricultural Educators. The plants were grown by FFA members who are enrolled in Horticulture, Green House Management or Landscape Technology courses in secondary schools throughout the state.
The plants, valued at more than $5000, were presented to State Treasurer Grady Patterson who serves as a member of the State Budget and Control Board; State Senator Larry Grooms, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee; George Dorn, Director of the Division of General Services of the Budget and Control Board; and Dennis Haigler, Horticulturalist with the Division of General Services.
 |
 |
Steve McCannon, President of the SC Agricultural Educators Association, addresses the Ceremony in the State House. |
A sample of the beautiful flowering plants on display on the north steps of the State House. |
 |
 |
| State FFA officers, Emily Waggoner, Shane Grice, Jacob Powers, Stephen Tyner, Jason Gore, and Michael Burdette with National FFA Vice President Stuart Joy (middle). | National FFA Vice President Stuart Joy, at left, with Manning FFA members Allison Ragin, Mercedes Johnson, Sasha Stukes, De Quan Williams, Lane Ham and Advisor Michael Haynes. |