Loris Soils Team
Ethan Todd (seated at left) with Gordon Best and William Hardee.
Standing from left is Adam Gore,Wayne Huddleston, Jarrett Johnson, Nate Bellamy and Matthew Adams.
LORIS AND ABBEVILLE FFA SOILS TEAMS IN NATIONAL FINALS
COLUMBIA, SC…The Loris and Abbeville FFA Soil Judging and Land Treatment teams will represent South Carolina in the National Soil Judging and Land Treatment Finals set for Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, May 5-7, 2009, according to John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA organization. They were the two top scoring teams in the State FFA Soil Judging Finals held in Sumter recently.
Loris High School team members Ethan Todd, Gordon Best, William Hardee and Jarrett Johnson took first place honors in the state competition and awarded an expense-paid trip to the national finals. Their coach, Nathan Bellamy, Agricultural Education instructor and FFA advisor at Loris High School, was also awarded a trip to the national event. Team member William Hardee was the third high scorer in the competition.
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| Abbeville Soils Team Seated from left is John Chaney, Brianna Noblin, and Clay Hall. Standing from left is Wayne Huddleston, Ronnie Cann and Fred Raines. |
Abbeville FFA members John Chaney, Brianna Noblin, Clay Hall and Ronnie Cann were named the state Runner-Up team and were also awarded expense-paid trips to the National Finals. Team coach Fred Raines, Agricultural Education instructor and FFA advisor at Abbeville High School was also awarded an expense-paid trip to Oklahoma.
Woodmont High School FFA member Dillon Myers was named the High Individual Scorer in the state competition and was awarded and expense-paid trip to the 2009 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. His coach is Barry Burdette, Agricultural Education instructor and FFA advisor at Woodmont High School.
The Aynor team made up of Mindy Richardson, Jessica Ratley, Skylar Johnson and Josh Dennis came in third in the state competition. Mindy Richardson was the second high scorer and was presented a watch in recognition of her accomplishment.
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| High Individual Scorer Wayne Huddleston with Dillon Myers and Barry Burdette. |
“Students who participate in the competition which is among the most difficult and comprehensive of all the FFA career development events, must match their skills in determining the adaptability of land for various uses such as farming or home site development,” Parris said. “The competition emphasizes principles essential for a career in environmental science, agribusiness, real estate marketing, home building and natural resource conservation,” he added.
Co-sponsors for the event include Duke Energy, Progress Energy, SCANA, Inc., the SC Association of Conservation Districts and the SC Conservation Districts Foundation in concert with the SC FFA Foundation.
Wayne Huddleston, Business Relations Manager, Agricultural Market, with Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC, from Hickory, NC, presented the plaques and checks to the winning teams and individuals on behalf of the sponsors.
The state competition was planned and coordinated by soil scientists with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and Clemson University Agricultural Education administrative staff with assistance from State FFA Secretary Adam Gore of Loris, State FFA Vice President Matthew Adams of Hamer, and Clemson Agricultural Education intern Jason Harding of Sumter.
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Aynor Soils Team Seated from left is Mindy Richardson, Jessica Ratley and Skylar Johnson. Standing from left is Adam Gore, Wayne Huddleston, Josh Dennis, Stacey Bazen and Matthew Adams. |