The Clarke Central High School Future Farmers of America chapter pose for a picture at the Milledge Ave. Baptist Church on Sept. 29. FFA president Raymond Pan, a junior, (second from left) believes that their chapter is successful because of their emphasis on teamwork skills. “Teamwork and (knowing) what to prioritize what to do and communication, and also (FFA) just makes you a more responsible person in my experience because you’re not going to have a teacher looming over you to make sure you’re studying,” Pan said. “You have to say that to yourself and make sure you’re doing what you have to do and (doing) what you have your passion in.” Photo courtesy of Ashleigh Cummings
Clarke Central High School’s Future Farmers of America chapter is competing in the Nursery/Landscaping Career Development Event for the first time on Feb. 27.
The Future Farmers of America chapter at Clarke Central High School will be participating in the Nursery/Landscaping Career Development Event on Feb. 27 at Banks County High School.
“It is a competition about knowledge about the plant (and) nursery industry and also landscaping. So it includes various aspects of those, including general knowledge, which would be types of plants, spacings of plants (and) grading of land,” CCHS interim FFA advisor Dr. Debbie Mitchell said.
This is the first time the CCHS FFA chapter has participated in the Nursery/Landscaping CDE, with FFA president Raymond Pan, a junior, and FFA members Ietta Veeder, Lillie Schulz and Eli Clarke, all of whom are juniors, participating.
“I’m nervous, and I don’t really know what to expect. I don’t know what it would be like there. (All) I know (is) what (the judges will) ask,” Schulz said. “I think it’s exciting (that this is CCHS’ first time going, and) hopefully, things work out well for (us).”
“The benefit (to) these (competitions is that) they’re very intense experiences that test knowledge, but also your poise and how you’re representing your school. And I think they really lay out a pathway towards career, or even towards college.”
— Dr. Debbie Mitchell,
CCHS interim FFA advisor
The Nursery/Landscaping CDE allows students not only to showcase their skills in horticulture but to also grow in other skill areas.
“The benefit (to) these (competitions is that) they’re very intense experiences that test knowledge, but also your poise and how you’re representing your school. And I think they really lay out a pathway towards career, or even towards college,” Mitchell said.
According to Pan, he would like CCHS to continue going to this competition and continue getting better, but to also grow the CCHS FFA chapter.
“I feel like FFA isn’t that big of a thing at Clarke Central versus maybe Madison County, Oconee County, like more rural areas. FFA is a lot more serious, and it’s like a way bigger deal (at those schools),” Pan said. “Other schools view Athens-Clarke County FFA chapters (poorly and) don’t have a good impression on us just because of our how we do in competitions, which is totally not right, obviously, because our focus is not on competition–it’s more about helping the community and connecting with them, (so) we also want to change this impression as well.”
