Allen Williams (left) with Chad Lowder, Krista McCuen and Mindy Sandifer.
LOWDER ADDRESSES LOWER STATE REGION AGRICULTURAL EDUCATORS
BARNWELL, SC….Chad Lowder of St. Matthews, Manager of Marketing and Government Relations with Tri-County Electric Cooperative and a member of the board of directors of the SC Cooperative Council, was the featured speaker at a recent meeting of Agricultural Educators from the seven-county Lower State Region held at the Barnwell County Career Center and hosted by Mindy Sandifer, Agricultural Education Instructor at the Center.
Mr. Lowder informed the teachers of various educational programs sponsored by the SC Cooperative Council which is made up of 35 cooperatives including agriculture, electric, telephone and others throughout the state.
“The Council sponsors the State FFA Star Farmer Award each year and Southern States Cooperative, one of its members, co-sponsors the State FFA Star in Agribusiness in concert with the SC FFA Foundation,” Mr. Lowder said. “Additionally, the Council annually sponsors a number of South Carolina FFA members and others to attend the National Institute on Cooperative Education,” he added.
“Another popular program sponsored by the Council of interest to Agricultural Educators is the annual Cooperative Educational Conference for Couples held in the Myrtle Beach area,” Mr. Lowder reported. “Couples from North Carolina and Georgia join with the South Carolina group for the weekend retreat.”
Other presenters at the regional meeting included Mindy Sandifer, vice president of the SC Agricultural Educators Association; John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA Association from Columbia; State FFA Vice President Krista McCuen of Gloverville; Steve Sanderson, associate state director of Agricultural Education with Clemson University; Keith Cox of Florence, state FFA executive secretary-treasurer with Clemson University; Allen Williams of Wagener, State President of the SC Agricultural Educators Association; and Billy Keels of Columbia, state director of Agricultural Education with Clemson University.