The presentation of greenhand degrees, chapter degrees and state degrees highlighted Tuesday’s annual FFA banquet honoring outstanding members of the Bainbridge High School and Bainbridge Middle School FFA chapters at the Cloud Livestock Pavilion.
The theme of the banquet was to ignite leadership, growth and success through FFA agricultural education.
Greenhand degrees, which go annually to outstanding first-year high school agricultural students who have a working knowledge of the FFA organization, were awarded to Austin Gordon, Briana Mills and Presley Manley.
A chapter degree, which goes annually to second year high school FFA members who have an acceptable supervised agriculture education program, was awarded to Dustin Moore.
State degrees go to high school FFA members who have been enrolled in agriculture classes for a minimum of two years and have an acceptable supervised agriculture education project and have already earned their chapter degree.
Earning state degrees were Landen Bryant, Taylor Givens, Savanna Locke and Megan Kelley. They will receive their certificates and pins at the state convention this week in Perry.
The Jeffery Lance Godwin friendliest agriculture student award, named in honor and memory of a former FFA member who tragically lost his life in a car accident and who always had a smile, a kind word and a caring heart, went to Landen Bryant.
Twenty-two students received discovery degrees, which go annually to eighth grade FFA members who are enrolled in middle school agriculture classes, pay their FFA dues, participate in one activity outside class and have an understanding of agricultural related classes. They included Charlton Lynn, Charlee Coker, Charlie Mathis, Gillian Williams, Haleigh Poitevint, Hannah Klock, Hudson Barber, Jackson Buchanan, John Kirkus and Katelyn Ward.
Also receiving discovery degrees were Madison Fitzgerald, Madison Toole, Mark Loeffler, Mary Mercer Reynolds, McKenzie Findley, Mea Neal, Michaele Bryant, Morgan Cannon, Rendi Harrison, Taylor Vaughn Walt Burrell and Will Kelley.
Career development event awards, which go to students who apply skills learned in their agriculture classes and compete against FFA members from other schools, were awarded to Landen Bryant, who represented Bainbridge High School at the Area 5 tractor operations career development event.
Gillian Williams placed first in the sub-area and area in the creed speaking career development event and will compete this week at the state convention.
BHS FFA member Quest Bryant finished third in the area-level FFA quiz career development event. In the floral design career development event, Michael Bryant represented Bainbridge Middle School in the FFA quiz career development event.
In preparation for career development events, students apply skills learned in their agriculture classes and compete against FFA members from other schools.