Ashton Berry (left), State FFA Secretary; with Katie McCannon, State FFA Vice President; Roger Estridge, President of the SC Agricultural Educators Association; Pat Black, Agricultural Education Instructor, Branchville High School; State Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers; State Representative Robert Walker, Chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee; and Representative Marion Frye, Sub-Committee Chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee, display a few of the flats of flowers which were contributed.
SC FFA MEMBERS AND AGRICULTURAL EDUCATORS CONTRIBUTE PLANTS TO BEAUTIFY STATE HOUSE GROUNDS
COLUMBIA, SC….FFA members and Agricultural Educators from 55 Agricultural Education Departments in schools and technology centers throughout South Carolina contributed approximately 400 flats of beautiful spring bedding plants to landscape the State House Grounds at a recent ceremony in Columbia, S.C., according to John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA Association, who planned and coordinated the event.
The Presentation of Flowers is a joint project of the SC FFA Association and the SC Agricultural Educators. The plants are grown by FFA members who are enrolled in Horticulture, Greenhouse Management or Landscape Technology courses as part of their hands-on-training experience.
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Pat Black, Agricultural Education Instructor at Branchville High School, presided at the ceremony staged on the north steps of the State Capitol. State Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers addressed the group and accepted the plants on behalf of the State of South Carolina. Other speakers included State Representative Robert Walker of Landrum, Chairman of the House Education and Public Works Committee; State Representative Marion Frye of Leesville, a Sub-Committee Chairman of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee; Roger Estridge of Iva, President of the SC Agricultural Educators Organization; Billy Keels of Columbia, State Director of Agricultural Education with Clemson University; State FFA Secretary Ashton Berry of Saluda; and State FFA Vice President Katie McCannon of Pendleton, addressed the large group of dignitaries and FFA members assembled at the State House.
The event, reported by three local TV stations and the South Carolina Radio News Network, was highlighted by the display of flowering plants across the front steps of the State House. Hundreds of government officials and visitors stopped to observe the excellent display of flowers which so dramatically symbolized the technical skill and scientific knowledge of Horticulture Science students in South Carolina’s schools.
Dennis Haigler, Horticulturalist with the South Carolina Division of General Services of the State Budget and Control Board, was high in his praises of the quality of the plants and made arrangements for them to be planted around the State House and adjacent buildings.
The mission of the FFA is to make positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.