Grant Easom, son of Heather and Brad Mathis, earned the prestigious Star Chapter Degree, which highlighted Tuesday night’s annual Bainbridge High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) awards banquet at the school cafeteria.

The award goes annually to an FFA member who has worked hard to support many of the chapter’s fund-raising activities.

Easom’s supervised agricultural experience project is in beef cattle production. He maintains a pasture and plants seasonal grazing. The Star Chapter Degree recipient also cares for cow and calf pairs in a partnership with his uncle, providing heat detection and health care services.

Chapter President Parks Kirbo and Vice President Kip Nussbaum received awards for their outstanding leadership during the school year.

The Star Agribusinessman Award, which goes annually to a chapter member who works in an agriculture-related business, was earned by Colton Davis, son of Mark and Susan Davis. He has grown cotton for six years, worked as a crop scout for two years and participated in livestock judging, land judging and tractor driving. This year he plans to plant 50 acres of cotton.

Will Bius, son of Martin and Denise Bius, received the prestigious Star Greenhand Award, which goes annually to the most outstanding BHS FFA first-year ag student.

He participated in livestock judging, exhibited three straight beef cattle champions, exhibited market hogs and breeding gilts and placed first in showmanship at the Georgia National Fair and the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show.

Richard Maxwell, son of Paul and Dean Maxwell, earned the Star Farmer Award. He has grown peanuts as his supervised agricultural experience project for the last three years and farmed with his family all his life.

He recently became a Georgia certified firefighter and serves his community as a member of the Climax Volunteer Fire Department.

Zach McLendon, son of Travis and Shelia McLendon, won the Star Entrepreneur Award. He opened his own lawn landscaping business three years ago and in that time he has completely paid for all of his equipment and maintained his customer base.

Chosen as outstanding ag students for going above and beyond the call of duty in helping the chapter and ag department meet its goals were freshman McKenzie Conder, sophomore Chelsea Kounse and juniors Tanner Walker and Cody Logue.

Richard Britt won the Jeffery Lance Godwin Friendliest Ag Student Award named in honor and memory of a former FFA member who lost his life in a car accident. It was voted on by Britt’s fellow chapter members.

Six adults—Bruce Kirbo Jr., Becky Nussbaum, Melvin Nussbaum III, Kay Lynn Hataway, Stevie Culverson and Jeff Parker—were made honorary FFA members for their outstanding service in advancing agricultural education and the FFA.