A local Future Farmers of America member is already making a name for himself within the organization.
Brentley Odom, 15, and a sophomore at Thomas County Central High School, is the current South Region president. The TCCHS FFA chapter is a part of this region and Odom was recently elected to the office.
“This was my first year running for a senior office and I was so young,” Odom said of his election. “I was super surprised. I was not expecting president at all. I am happy I did get president and I feel like I can fulfill the duties that I need to.”
Robbie Harrison, a TCCHS agriculture teacher and FFA advisor, said the chapter is “ecstatic” about Odom’s election.
“We are extremely honored and proud to have such a fine young man representing our chapter at the regional level,” she said. “We know he will do a great job and make us all very proud.”
This is not Odom’s first time to hold an FFA office: he ran for an area junior office in seventh grade and won. But, he wanted a shot at a higher level.
“I wanted to be an area officer again because I had gained more experience,” Odom explained. “I wanted to run this (past) year as a ninth-grader. I felt I was old enough and mature enough that I could run for a senior office.”
He’s been involved with FFA since seventh grade and was one of the first to sign on for the program at Thomas County Middle School when it started. His specialized area is swine showing.
“The thing I love about FFA is you can have all these kids from all these other counties who can group together to have one common goal: to have fun and do what they love to do – forestry, wildlife, livestock, etc. – in FFA,” he said. “I love going to events and intermingling with them and having a good time. I’ve learned things about leadership, how to mingle with others, and met people I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. We’re an FFA family. FFA has had such an impact on me. I want to show other people how much it helps you and how it can be a good influence.”
His responsibilities as South Region president include attending Career Development Events (CDEs), where teams or individuals tackle specific topics and compete against one another in a variety of areas, to talk to and help those present. Also, at the FFA Day at the Georgia State Fair in Perry, Odom gets to speak and be a member of the “courtesy corps” to help others get where they need to be.
An upcoming event Odom is really excited about is the upcoming South Region Rally. Planned and run by area officers, it will be a chance for chapters to practice for event competition and offer learning opportunities through FFA-centric activities.
“I’m honestly psyched to do it,” Odom said. “We all agreed we wanted a region rally and brainstormed ideas. All the officers worked together. Anyone can come as long as they are with an FFA chapter.”
Odom thanked his parents, Randy and Toni Odom, for their support, and his older brother Brandon for his dedication to FFA, for setting the bar high and motivating him to succeed in it. He also thanked his agriculture teachers in middle and high school for their encouragement, hard work, and positive impact on his life.
Harrison said Odom has made “a positive impact” on the chapter’s membership and the community “through his leadership skills, participation, and zeal.”
“Brentley is passionate about the national FFA organization and is focused on helping other students develop leadership skills, achieve personal growth, and success through agriculture education,” she said.
Odom plans to continue moving forward within FFA, including running for state office next year, once he’s met the requirements. And, he wouldn’t mind holding a region office again, either.
“It doesn’t matter what position I hold,” he said. “I just want to be a part of it.”