Ricky Keisler, Matt Harden, Cody Lybrand and Trey Elrod with Advisor Derrick Cooper.
GILBERT FFA TRACTOR OPERATORS TEAM TAKE TOP STATE HONORS
COLUMBIA, SC… .Gilbert High School FFA Tractor Operation and Safety Team took first place honors in the state finals held recently at the South Carolina State Fair Grounds in Columbia, according to John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA organization.
Team members Ricky Keisler, Matt Harden, Cody Lybrand and Trey Elrod successfully outscored teams from high schools throughout the state. They were coached by Derrick Cooper, Agricultural Education teacher and FFA advisor at Gilbert.
“The purpose of the agricultural engineering-related competition is to provide students an opportunity to demonstrate their skill in operating a tractor and implement while practicing appropriate safety precautions,” Parris said. “In today’s mechanized world, tractors are significantly important in agriculture, construction, commercial, residential and recreational businesses,” he added.
Teaching students to properly operate a tractor in a safe manner is an on-going program in many agricultural education departments throughout South Carolina.