The Georgia FFA gathered more top honors than any other state association at the 77th annual gathering. More than 1,000 Georgia FFA members, advisors, parents and honorees attended the convention.
Capping off a week of top awards, Rachael McCall, of Wilcox County, was named national FFA vice president for the Southern Region. Rachel will represent the nearly half-million member organization traveling more than 100,000 miles promoting agriculture and the organization's leadership, personal development and career success agenda.
Elizabeth Mulkey, of Bainbridge High, was named the national winner in the FFA Creed Speaking contest. She recited the creed and answered questions from judges on her interpretation of the 74 year old passage.
Georgia started the week with 15 individual national proficiency finalists out of the 49 total categories. When the selections were completed, eight Georgia FFA members were named national proficiency winners. Georgia winners included: Emily Byers, Jackson County, Agricultural Communications; David Farmer, Jr., Franklin County, Beef Production; Will Cabe, Franklin County, Diversified Livestock Production; Paul Ruddle,
Lowndes County, Emerging Agricultural Technology; Ward Black, Jackson County, Home and/or Community Development; Jwaltney Daniels, Tift County, Landscape Management; Nicole Cisson, Franklin County, Poultry Production; Chris Yearwood, Small Animal Care and Production. The FFA proficiency program recognizes individuals who transfer their classroom instruction into individual supervised agricultural experience programs in production and entrepreneurship careers. Georgia FFA proficiency finalists topped
the nation because of the superior classroom instruction and development from local advisors and state agricultural education specialists.
Paul Ruddle, of Lowndes County, was also named as the National Agriscience Student of the Year for his work with photosynthetic variances in transgenic plants.
The National FFA honored chapters for their program of work and contributions to the community. Montgomery County and Jackson County were both recognized as three star chapters.
The National FFA bestowed its top degree on 35 Georgia members. Less than .5% of all members attain the coveted American FFA Degree. Georgia honorees included: Rodney Bearden, Dawson Co.; Stephanie Beecher, Jeff Davis Co.; Brittany Crumpler, Jeff Davis Co.; Amanda Grizzle, Jeff Davis Co.; Benjamin Hansford, Oconee Co.; Jonathan Hardeman, Montgomery Co.; Brent Hartley, Perry; Shelby Holmes, North Hall; Brandi Hurley, Jeff Davis Co.; Daniel Jackson, Treutlen Co.; Phillip Jones, Pickens Co.; Dustin
Keener, Stephens Co.; James Kent, Ware Co.; Lucas Kirkland, Jeff Davis Co.; Dusty Lowman, Dawson Co.; Matt Marchant, Jeff Davis Co.; Brent McBride, Jeff Davis Co.; Rachael McCall, Wilcox Co.; Nathan McLeod, Jeff Davis Co.; Katie Murray, Colquitt Co.; Clay Norman, Elbert Co.; Rodney Redd, Putnam Co.; Ashley Seamon, Perry; Jason Smith, Oconee Co.; Jody Smith, Jeff Davis Co.; Brad Strickland, Newton Co.; John Thornton, Wayne Co.; Cliff Tippens, Clinch Co.; Craig Truitt, Elbert Co.; Thomas Walraven,
Gordon Co.; Andrew Warnock, Bleckley Co.; Matthew Waters, Gordon Co.; Alise Winders, Oconee Co.; Travis Woodcock, Jeff Davis Co.; and David Yarbrough Chattooga Co.
Even though the week centered on student achievement, several Georgia FFA adult leaders garnered national attention. Gary Farmer, of Athens, north region coordinator, was named member of the year of the National Association of Supervisors of Agricultural Education. James Woodard, program manager for Agricultural Education, was recognized as a retiring member from the National FFA Board of Directors after three years of
service. .
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