State FFA Secretary Troy Dobbins (left); Lexington Technology Center FFA Advisor Tommy Harmon;
Lexington Soils Team members Ryan Thompson, John Roof, Cassidy Reeh and Eric Richardson.with
Wayne Huddleston, Hickory, NC, Business Relations Manager with Duke Energy.
LEXINGTON AND LORIS FFA SOIL TEAMS TO COMPETE IN NATIONAL FINALS
Lexington Technology Center FFA Soil Identification and Land Treatment team members Eric Richardson, John Roof, Cassidy Reeh and Ryan Thompson took first place honors in the State Finals held in Anderson County on November 13, 2010, according to John W. Parris, state director of public affairs with the SC FFA organization. Eric Richardson was the second high individual scorer in the state competition and received an engraved watch for his accomplishment. The team and their coach, Tommy Harmon, agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor at the technology center, were awarded expense-paid trips to the National Finals set for May 3-5, 2011, in Oklahoma.
Loris High School team members Korbin Causey, Cole Duncan, Bobby Wade, Justin Todd and Ryan Todd took Runner-up honors and were also awarded expense-paid trips to compete in the National Finals. Nate Bellamy, agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor at Loris High School, was also awarded an expense-paid trip and will accompany the students to the national event.
Pelion team member Philip Shumpert was the high individual scorer in the state finals and was awarded an expense paid trip to the 2011 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, for this outstanding achievement. His coach is Frank R. Stover, Jr., agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor at Pelion High School.
Abbeville team members Lane Erwin, Thomas Underwood, Will Bass and Brittany Sumner placed third in the state finals. Will Bass was the third high individual scorer in the state competition. The team was coached by Fred Raines, agricultural education instructor and FFA advisor at Abbeville High School.
“Students who compete in the Soil Identification and Land Treatment career development event must match their skill in determining the adaptability of land for various uses such as home site development, other construction or agriculture,” Mr. Parris said. “The competition emphasizes principles essential for a career in agribusiness. environmental science, real estate marketing, home building and natural resource management,” he added.
Co-sponsors of the state competition include Duke Energy, Progress Energy, SCANA, Inc., the SC Conservation Districts Foundation and the SC Association of Conservation Districts. Wayne Huddleston, Business Relations Manager with Duke Energy, and Amanda Bauknight, chair of the SC Conservation Districts Foundation, represented the sponsors at the event.
The career development event was coordinated by Keith Cox with Clemson University who serves as executive secretary-treasurer of the SC FFA Association, and conducted by soil scientists with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
State FFA officers Troy Dobbins, Scott Sherard and Seamus Cassidy were in attendance and assisted with the competition.
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| Loris FFA Soils Team members seated from left Cole Duncan and Korbin Causey; Standing from left State FFA Vice President Seamus Cassidy; FFA Advisor Nate Bellamy; other team members Bobby Wade, Justin Todd and Ryan Todd and Sponsor Representative Wayne Huddleston (right) , Duke Energy. Hickory, NC |
State FFA Vice Presiden Scott Sherard (left); Pelion FFA Advisors Frank R. Stover, Jr.; High Individual Scorer Philip Shumpert and Sponsor Representative Wayne Huddleston with Duke Energy. |
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| State FFA Vice President Scott Sherard (left), Abbeville FFA Advisor Fred Raines, Team members Lane Erwin, Thomas Underwood, Will Bass and Brittany Sumner with Sponsor Representative Wayne Huddleston, Duke Energy, Hickory, NC. |
State FFA Vice President Seamus Cassidy (left), Aiken; USDA-NRCS Soil Conservationist Brandon Durant, Anderson; USDA-NRCS Resource Soil Scientist Emory Holsonback, Laurens; State FFA Vice President Scott Sherard, Abbeville; and State FFA Secretary Troy Dobbins, Townville. |