A group of Thomas County Central High School FFA members celebrated the chapter’s new year by attending a special kickoff event.
Students Keith Watson, Hanna Moser, Taylor Harrison, Shelby Lewis, Blayne Paschall, Shawn Garrity and Cannon Wheeler recently attended the fourth annual South Region Leadership Rally. The event was held at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture, formerly known as the Agrirama, in Tifton.
“Region rally allows our students to become excited about what is to come this school year in FFA,” TCCHS FFA advisor and agriculture teacher Nikki Smith, who accompanied the group, said. “They also get to experience samples of different competitions that they can participate in this year while learning leadership skills.”
Exclusively for FFA members in Southern Region, the rally’s purpose is to spark members’ interest and motivate involvement in their local FFA chapter. This is done through participation in Career Development Events, student-led local community service projects, and attendance in character-building leadership conferences and conventions like the region rally.
Smith wanted her students to attend the rally to show them the many active FFA members in their region.
“I thought the rally was very fun,” participant Hanna Moser said. “We were able to meet people from other schools and interact with them.”
Participants had the opportunity to contend in a variety of events to help them determine what competition areas they should enter this school year. According to a Georgia FFA press release, Career Clustered Events included: Horticulture Plant Identification, Animal Science Identification, Global Positioning System Mapping Course, Agriculture Mechanics Identification, an Opening and Closing Ceremonies Contest (formal meeting procedures) and an Advisor’s Challenge.
Activities also focused on communication, team work and leadership. Rally participants listened to speakers from Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College, University of Georgia (Tifton) and South Region State FFA Vice President Dawson Adams. They also toured the Georgia Museum of Agriculture facilities and rotated through more than 10 unique leadership activities.
Moser’s favorite event was Captains Coming with Andy Paul, a leadership game similar to Simon Says. She and a fellow TCCHS chapter member won.
“I gained leadership skills,” Moser said. “I think participating in this rally will allow me to be a better leader.”
Smith’s favorite part of the rally was taking her students to a mill where cornmeal and grits are made.
“While this did not directly correlate with the different Career Clustered Events, it allowed the students to step back in time and make their own corn meal,” she said. “Seeing the interest and excitement on the students’ faces really made the experience memorable.”
FFA is a national organization dedicated to preparing its members for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture. According to the release, its mission 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.
Smith plans to implement some of the lessons she learned from the rally within TCCHS FFA.
“I plan to implement more leadership games at our FFA meetings as well as in class,” she said. “The students see these as fun games, but at the same time they are learning valuable leadership and teamwork skills.”