Thomas County Central High School National FFA Organization chapter was well represented at the 90th annual Georgia FFA Convention.
Senior Brentley Odom placed in two Career Development Event competition categories and ?agriculture teacher/FFA adviser Donald Dalton received special recognition, an honorary Georgia FFA degree. The convention was held April 26-28 in Macon.
Odom placed first in Environmental and Natural Resources Proficiency and in the top 12 in Extemporaneous Speaking.
“These awards mean so much to me,” he said. “I have never won a state CDE in FFA, but I have competed for seven years … . I have placed very high in area and state competitions but never won one before. So, I feel that winning a state competition at the state convention is truly an accomplishment for me. …Finally, at my senior year, I was able to walk across stage and win a state contest.”
Placing in these two categories his senior year and advancing to nationals in one of them, proficiency, makes him appreciate winning a state contest even more.
The proficiency application is a lengthy process with several levels (local, region, etc.) to climb, Odom explains. At state, competitors deliver a one-minute speech and spend five minutes answering judges’ questions. ?
“Pretty much whoever has the best application and interview wins,” Odom said. “The application is weighted more than interview.”
While Odom wished his placement in Extemporaneous Speaking was higher, he said the person who won deserved it. This category also has several competition levels, Odom says. Topics are not shared before competition and participants may not prepare work in advance. Topics are chosen at random and competitors have 30 minutes to write a 4-6-minute speech and deliver it to the judges. After the speech, the judges have five minutes to ask questions.
“This contest is the most challenging contest that FFA has to offer,” Odom said. “It challenges you to think and speak with enthusiasm. I have learned most [of my] speaking skills in this contest … .”
Nikki Smith, wrapping her first year as an agricultural science teacher at TCCHS, is one of the chapter’s advisers.
“I believe Brentley stood out in the proficiency CDE due to his dedication to his topic,” Smith said. “Brentley spent hundreds of hours working with NRCS gaining knowledge about his topic as well as many years competing in agriscience fair projects. Brentley has set the tone for the younger students, inspiring them to achieve their goals competing in Career Development Events.”
Longtime agricultural science teacher Donald Dalton received an honorary state FFA degree. This designation, according to an event press release, is given to those individuals who “have rendered outstanding service to agricultural education and the National FFA Organization.” Dalton received a plaque and medal.
“It was humbling to take the stage with the other winners,” he said. “To be recognized by the FFA organization for doing what I love must mean I somewhat must have done it right.”
For more on Dalton and his extensive career in agriculture, see an upcoming teacher profile.
Smith is extremely proud of the chapter’s overall efforts this year.
“The Thomas County Central High School FFA chapter consists of close to 300 members,” she said. “We compete in several different CDEs ranging from Livestock Evaluation to Prepared Public Speaking. Our students are also active in livestock shows and community service projects.”
Being a TCCHS FFA member has completely changed Odom’s life.
“I learned all of my speaking skills from FFA,” he explains. “I learned my social skills from FFA and learned many lessons in life through FFA. Being a member of FFA in general has changed my life. Being a part of the local chapter isn't even half of what FFA has to offer. FFA at the local, region, state and national level have made me into who I am today.”
According to the release, the Georgia FFA chapter is the third-largest in the National FFA Organization. Odom says FFA cultivates not only crops but also futures, good students and better leaders.
“FFA is the backbone of everything we do,” he said. “We are not just Future Farmers of America but [the] future of America.”
No matter what his future holds, Odom says the National FFA Organization will always hold a special place to him.
“I do not know exactly what I want to pursue (for a career), but if I use the skills used in FFA, I can never go wrong,” he said.
National FFA Convention will be held Oct. 24-28 in Indianapolis, Ind.