South Central FFA ranks among nation's best

GREENWICH — The South Central FFA Chapter has earned national recognition, being named a 3-Star Chapter in the 2024 Gold-Rated National Chapter Award Program by the National FFA Organization, the highest honor awarded to local chapters across the country. The recognition places South Central among the top-performing agricultural education programs in the nation. The award honors chapters that excel at "growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture," according to the National FFA. Chapters are evaluated on how well they implement the organization's mission, improve operations using the National Quality FFA Chapter Standards, and provide educational experiences for all members. Those receiving star ratings this year will be recognized during the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo, taking place this week in Indianapolis. Honoring local student leadership The South Central FFA members recognized for making the award possible include Hayley Putt, Izzy Lucha, Lauren Ingram, Jaleigh Riddle, Kaili Ingram, Grace Rhode, Jayla Tolliver, Bryan Chaffee, Isabella Kimberlin, Jenna Shepherd, Abby Fannin and Ella Sanders. Corporate partners John Deere and New Holland sponsor the National Chapter Award Program. In a national statement, Mark Lowery, Director of Network Development at New Holland, said, "They are successfully enriching their communities and preparing FFA members to be the future leaders of our company and industry, which is important work that we are honored to support." About the South Central FFA The South Central FFA Chapter is part of the South Central Local Schools district in Greenwich. The program provides students hands-on learning opportunities in agriculture, environmental science, and leadership development. According to the school district, members regularly compete in soil and forestry contests, host safety and outreach events, and participate in community service projects that tie classroom lessons to real-world agricultural issues. The chapter's activities reflect the National FFA's three-part model of agricultural education — classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience projects, and participation in FFA leadership programs. About the National FFA Founded in 1928 as the Future Farmers of America, the organization changed its name in 1988 to reflect a broader mission — preparing young people for leadership and careers in agriculture, science, business and technology. Today, the National FFA Organization has more than 1 million student members across 9,400 local chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the group's website. Its stated 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." A point of pride for Huron County For the students of South Central, the 3-Star designation is more than a national title, it's recognition of years of work both inside and outside the classroom. The award also highlights the strength of agricultural education in Huron County and the opportunities available for young people interested in farming, agribusiness and environmental leadership. The chapter will be officially recognized this week during the National FFA Convention, joining hundreds of top-performing student organizations from across the country.