Kelsey Bridges and Kerry Lee Cox at the SC FFA Display.
SC FFA DAY AT STATE FAIR
A record attendance of more than 1500 FFA members from throughout the state attended the FFA Recognition Ceremony at the State Fair on Thursday, October 15.
 |
| Kerry Lee Cox, Dr. Tom Dobbins, Nancy Smith and Kelsey Bridges |
Program participants included Nancy Smith, Assistant General Manager, SC State Fair; Dr. Tom Dobbins, superintendent of Livestock Department at the Fair and Program Coordinator for Agricultural Education at Clemson University; State FFA Officers Kerry Lee Cox and Kelsey Bridges; Vonne Baker, State Coordinator, Ag in the Classroom, SC Farm Bureau Federation; and Ben Teal, Clemson University Collegiate FFA officer.
Educational highlights of the day included the Ag Simulator and miniature cotton gin demonstrated by the SC Farm Bureau Federation staff, the SC FFA Association educational display, a tour of the livestock facilities, a visit to the SC Department of Agriculture’s large exhibition and experiencing the gigantic landscape model of the Congaree National Park.
 |
| A part of the 1500 FFA members and guests in attendance at the SC FFA Day Ceremony. |
Aiken High School and Marion County Technical Education Center FFA members and advisors Meghan Wood and Linwood Chestnut were recognized for producing and contributing the beautiful mums to decorate the Livestock Arena. One of the judges said in his closing statement to the audience at one of the shows during the Fair that he had never seen a more attractively decorated livestock arena in all of this travels across the country.
 |
The day at the Fair is always special because the Future Palmetto Farmers Association had its beginning on the State Fair Grounds in October 1927. This association was the forerunner of the National FFA Organization as it is known today. One of the delegates to that 1927 organizational meeting, Mr. S.F. Horton, lives in Loris, SC, and has vivid memories of that historic event.
The SC FFA Recognition Day program and Educational display was planned and coordinated by John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA organization. Dr. Tom Dobbins arranged for the stage, podium and sound system and presided at the ceremony. Billy Keels, state director of Agricultural Education, assisted in setting up and dismantling the FFA display. Steve Sanderson, associate state director of Agricultural Education, assisted with the photography and Zane Bryant, resident director of the SC FFA Leadership Center, coordinated the luncheon special for FFA members and guests.
 |
 |
| SC Farm Bureau officials at the Ag Simulator
and miniature cotton gin. |
Clemson University Collegiate FFA officers
check out Ag Simulator. |
 |
 |
| Clemson University Collegiate FFA officers
at SC FFA Display |
Aiken FFA Advisor Meghan Wood with some of the Aiken FFA members at the SC FFA Recognition Day. |
 |
 |
| Aiken FFA Advisor Meghan Wood and FFA members presenting mums to decorate the Livestock Arena. | Marion FFA Advisor Linwood Chestnut and FFA members present followers to decorate the State Fair Livestock Arena |
 |
 |
Swansea FFA advisor Clair Davenport and Steve Sanderson, associate state director of Agricultural Education, with the Swansea FFA delegation at FFA Day. |
Blythewood FFA members Taylor Clementi (left), Melanie Benedict and Payton Debeaugine were among those who served on the FFA Courtesy Corps during the Fair. |
 |
 |
Pelion FFA President Brooke Whitaker (left) and Samantha Hinson, chapter vice president, served as members of the SC FFA Courtesy Corps during the State Fair. |
State FFA officers Kerry Lee Cox and Kelsey Bridges with Elizabeth Burdette Morton who served as State FFA President in 1995-96. She took leave from Clemson University during the spring semester of her term in office to devote full time to promoting the FFA, specifically in public affairs. |