Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Pocahontas County High School FFA advisor Andy Friel and FFA president Hannah Burks presented awards and inducted the 2024-2025 officers at the annual FFA banquet April 26.
Friel recognized former FFA member and 2020 graduate Charity Morrison, presenting her with the highest honor a FFA member can receive – the American FFA Degree.
“She was qualified to obtain her American FFA Degree last year,” he said. “That’s the highest FFA degree you can receive. You have to have three thousand hours or you can have $10,000 earned with $7,500 invested back into your SAE [Supervised Agricultural Experience] project. Charity had a combination of beef production, poultry and she had a work placement forestry job at a sawmill.”
Before announcing the new officers, Burks gave a speech about her time in FFA. She explained how she rose through the ranks and tried to get involved in as many aspects of the agriculture education offered at PCHS.
“Man, what a journey it has been,” she said. “It began my freshman year when I got to work out in the meats lab. We got to cut beef and we also got to trim the hams. I learned a couple things – Jessica [Armstrong] and I cut a shoulder off a beef faster than anybody I know and also, that when I cut my thumb, it does not stop bleeding for twenty-four hours.”
In her sophomore year, she moved on to the greenhouse and in junior year, ag mechanics.
“I was able to work out in the greenhouse and grow plants for the community,” she said. “Anyone that knows me, knows that I love the heat, so I loved being out there in the summer heat. I took ag mechanics and got to rebuild a stock trailer with my fellow students, as well as help out in the greenhouse.”
This year as a senior, she took the ag entrepreneur class and said it has been one of her favorite parts of ag. She took a leadership role and was allowed to plan a field trip to the Perkins Dairy Farm. She also built the monthly FFA newsletter with fellow classmates and organized a community service committee.
“I’ve shown animals,” she said. “I’ve been out in the greenhouse. I’ve done a lot with it and I learned a lot. I’ve attended officer retreats and speaking competitions. I also loved the Envirothon. When I first heard about it, I thought it was really nerdy, but it’s a lot of fun when you go.”
In conclusion, Burks encouraged her fellow FFA members to take chances and get involved with as many parts of the agriculture education program.
“I’m so excited about handing down these amazing opportunities to the upcoming students and new officers,” she said. “Though I get picked on for talking to anyone and everyone, I’ve made lifelong friendships throughout all the trips and journeys. I encourage all ofyou to take every opportunity. Don’t be scared or embarrassed. Go talk to people. Just do it. It will fly by, and you’ll miss it when it’s gone. So just know, I might be miles away at college, but I’m always a phone call away.”
The following students received the Greenhand Degree which is presented to students who have learned the FFA creed and motto, the history of FFA and passed a test – Alexis Arbogast, Clair Buzzard, Kylie Casey, Riley Cassell, Amber Defibaugh, Elijah Evans, Rachel Felton, Zoe Good, Leanne Green, Charleigh Halterman, Trenton Harwell, Kaylee Hershman, Kenslee Lane, Catherine Lucabaugh, Sierra Nelson, Maia O’Doherty, Ricky Osborne, Kohlton Pyles, Dixie Schoolcraft, Tanner Smith, Jasmine Tuskan, Hayden Waddell, Nicholas Loudermilk, Silas Beezley, Kenton Mick, Griffin Taylor, Trevor Tuskan, Devin Armstrong, Caroline Bennett, Jayden Bennett, Emileigh Friel, Gavin Groff, Ethan McLaughlin, Cornell Morris, Douvaughn Morris, Addyson Puffenbarger, Erin Rider, Adelyn Warner and Benjamin Workman.
Sierra Nelson received the Star Greenhand Award which is presented to the student who had top honors in class and excelled in learning about FFA.
The Chapter Degree is presented to students who have invested a certain amount of money and hours into their SAE projects. Earning the award this year were Dominic Bennett, Heather Cain, Robert Mayle, Kendra Moyers, Jax Peck, Hayden Walker, Cammi Warner, Kaden Wayne and Calli Propst.
Proficiency awards are presented in categories specific to the SAEs the students chose to do and excelled in completing. Agriculture Communications – Hannah Burks; Agriculture Mechanics Repair and Maintenance, Griffin Taylor; Agricultural Sales – Charleigh Halterman; Beef Production – Kirsten Friel; Diversified Livestock Production – Kaden Wayne; Equine Sciences – Cammi Warner; Goat Production – Leanne Green; Poultry Production – Amber Defibaugh; and Swine Production – Brianna Cochran.
The following students received the Community Service Award – Brianna Cochran, Hannah Burks, Kaden Wayne, Cammi Warner and Kirsten Friel.
Amber Defibaugh was recognized for placing third in the Regional Freshman Creed Competition. Hannah Burks was also recognized, for placing first at the Regional Extemporaneous Speaking Competition.
Those participating in the West Virginia Envirothon Competition received certificates – Kirsten Friel, Cammi Warner, Sierra Nelson, Mackenzie Taylor and Amber Defibaugh.
At the end of the banquet, the 2024-2025 officers were announced. They are President Kirsten Friel, Vice President Cammi Warner, Secretary Gracie Sisler, Treasurer Sierra Nelson, Sentinel Griffin Taylor, Reporter Whitney Robertson, Historian Brianna Cochran, Parliamentarian Caroline Bennett and Chaplain Kaden Wayne.
