State FFA Officers Caroline Sherard (left), Krista McCuen, Flint Holbrook, National FFA Official Frank Saldana, State FFA Officer Matthew Adams, Honoree Alton B. Jeffords, State FFA Officers Adam Gore and Will Amick.
JEFFORDS RECEIVES TO NATIONAL FFA AWARD
COLUMBIA, SC….Retired Agricultural Educator Alton Beasley Jeffords of Lamar, was awarded the prestigious Honorary American FFA Degree at a recent ceremony in Columbia, according to John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA organization.
The presentation was made by Frank Saldana, executive director of the National FFA Alumni Organization, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, during a recent SC FFA-sponsored State Legislators Appreciation Ceremony at the State Capitol.
Mr. Saldana said the 507,000 member National FFA Organization annually recognizes a select group of exceptional individuals from throughout the nation for their support and promotion of the FFA at the local, state, regional and national levels. The Honorary American FFA Degree is the highest award presented by the national agricultural education student group to friends and supporters.
Mr. Jeffords is a graduate of Clemson University with a BS Degree in Agronomy and Masters in Agricultural Education. He served in Vietnam as a commissioned officer and in the South Carolina National Guard for 20 years as a commissioned officer and helicopter pilot. He served at Lamar High School for 27 years as one of the nation’s outstanding Agricultural Educators.
The mission of the FFA is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.