Unwavering dedication to agriculture and the National FFA Organization led one Thomas County Central High School alum to earn the group’s most prestigious degree.
Brentley Odom, a 2018 TCCHS graduate who currently attends Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, will receive the American FFA Degree. According to the official release, less than one percent of FFA members earn this degree, honoring students for their academic and professional excellence. Odom is one of 4,136 recipients countrywide.
“It is very exciting,” Odom said. “I cannot be more thankful that I am able to receive the biggest honor that the National FFA Organization can bestow on its members.”
Sponsored by Case IH, Elanco Animal Health and Syngenta, it spotlights individuals who have demonstrated both ability and exceptional achievements in agricultural business, production, processing or service programs. Also, recipients exemplify dedication to the National FFA Organization via leadership, personal growth and career success within agricultural education.
“I did not have to compete for this degree, but I did have to put in plentiful hours of hard work and dedication to receive it,” Odom said. “It is a very proud opportunity, and I am thankful that I can represent the state of Georgia for this accomplishment.”
Eligibility requirements are in the National FFA Constitution. These include 50 hours of community service, outstanding leadership abilities and civic involvement through numerous FFA and community activities, and successful completion of a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) program. National staff review the submissions and the National FFA Board of Directors approves recipients.
At TCCHS, Odom was an active member of the school’s Career Technical Agricultural Education agriculture pathway and its FFA chapter. He served in numerous leadership positions and earned several awards, including at the district, state and national levels. For example, he won a 2018 National Agricultural Proficiency Award in Environmental Science and Natural Resources Management – Entrepreneurship/Placement. And through the TCCHS Work-Based Learning program, Odom volunteered with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
“From the first day I met Brentley, I knew he would accomplish great things through FFA,” TCCHS FFA adviser and agriculture teacher Nikki Smith said. “Brentley surpassed each goal he made for himself, whether it was competing in the Leadership Development Events, being an area officer, or even winning at the national level with his proficiency application. Brentley dedicated countless hours to FFA and his SAE, which has led him to be honored with the American degree. We are so very proud of Brentley and all he has done through FFA. We know he will continue to do great things!”
Odom says someone who supported him from the start of his pursuit of the degree was former TCCHS agriculture teacher Jerry Stone, who also earned the esteemed American FFA degree.
“Before he became a regional teacher, he helped push me to try to achieve this goal,” Odom said. “Many talks in his office and him showing me how I can achieve this helped me want to pursue this award.”
And his loved ones had his back the whole journey.
“I couldn’t have done this without the help of my family and friends,” Odom said. “And I never want to forget to say thank you for that.”
The degree will be presented virtually this year during the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo, scheduled for Oct. 27-29. Each honoree receives a gold American FFA Degree key and certificate.
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 760,000 student members as part of 8,700 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information, visit FFA.org.
Odom intends to graduate ABAC in December with a degree in agribusiness.
“I plan on pursuing an agricultural career, and right now, I’m determining the specific job that will be my best fit,” he said.