Grace McAlister, Reporter1@riverbendnews.org
On Thursday, May 12, the Branford FFA chapter celebrated its annual Awards Ceremony Banquet. Family and friends, along with the many FFA members from the chapter, gathered together for dinner and fellowship in celebration of the many accomplishments throughout the year. The Branford FFA chapter is led by Stacy Young. Throughout the year, the members of the various teams spent countless hours preparing for competitions in which their efforts paid off. Branford FFA honored all those who put in time throughout the year to support the program and the team members that make up the chapter.
Branford FFA annually recognizes members who rise to the top with the Star Awards. These members have gone above and beyond in their attitude, involvement, community service and supervised agricultural experience. Delaney Fennell received the Star Farmer award; Braxton Young received the Star Placement award; Jana Roberts received the Star Greenhand Award and Natalie Clark received the Star Discovery award.
The Willie Veal Award was granted to Lauren Fout; the Leadership Award was granted to Halleigh Ray Harris and the Eagle Award was granted to Hannah Terry. Nathalia Veal and Wren Wilkerson were both recipients of the Blue and Gold award. Kaitlyn Holinger received the high school Rising Sun award and Ayden Humphries received the middle school Rising Sun Award. The Workhorse award was granted to both Trevor Linton and Caige Tidwell, while the Pride award was granted to both Seth Ramsey and Reagan Anthony. The Spirit award was granted to both Christin Taylor and Aiden Cannon.
Branford FFA also presented awards to their State Winning Farm and Business Management Team. Members included Seth Ramsey, Seth Humphries, Lauren Fout and Andrew Escobar. Wren Wilkerson was also awarded for her State Winning Middle Ornamental Horticulture Project.
Through the FFA Foundation, businesses and individuals support scholarships that are awarded to students with a wide variety of higher education plans and career goals. Six students received scholarships at the banquet to assist them with furthering their education. The Walter Brown Excellence in Agriculture Scholarship was awarded to Noah Anderson; the Branford Forestry Board Scholarship was awarded to both Nathan Hill and Caylee Boone; the Soil and Water Conservation Scholarship was awarded to both Hannah Terry and Halleigh Ray Harris; and Seth Humphries was awarded the Barnes Family Scholarship.
Branford FFA Honorary Degree Awards were presented to Mary Keen and Melissa Fennell.
Branford FFA also awarded their State Proficiency Finalists, including Jenny King for Specialty Animal Production; Delaney Fennell for Dairy Production; Kelsey Bass for Ag Processing and Ag Sales; Dallas Frierson for Equine Production; Barrett Young for Diversified Crop and Diversified Ag Production; and Braxton Young for Diversified Ag, Diversified Livestock and Small Animal Production.
In addition, the following Branford FFA members were presented awards for being named third in state for poultry: Natalie Clark, Ella Clark, Wren Wilkerson, Colton Taylor and Kelbi Snider. Natalie Veal, Hannah Terry, Zamaria Granado and Jenny King received fourth in state for the Environmental Science Career Development Event (CDE).
Discovery degrees were granted to Aubrey Wood, Nathalia Clark, Reagan Anthony, Caige Tidwell, Rae Finch, Wyatt Derringer, Gavin Barnes, Sadie Miller and Austin Know. This degree is awarded to students who are in seventh or eighth grade, are enrolled in agricultural classes, and pay dues to their FFA chapter.
Thirteen chapter members were granted State FFA Degrees including: Caylee Boone, Jenna Byrd, Andrew Escobar, Delaney Fennell, Zamaria Granado, Halleigh Ray Harris, Alexis Hatch, Tanner Miller, Evie Pitts, Marissa Riels, Miranda Riels, Hannah Terry and Nathalia Veal.
American FFA Degrees were granted to Colton Allen, Dara Cannon, Casidy Coker, Dallas Frierson, Brianna Lanier, Trey White, Barrett Young and Wyatt Miller.
Steer and Heifer awards were given to Jadlyn Brown, Bryson Cheney, Delaney Fennel, Noah Ramsey, Braxton Young and Hannah Young.
In addition, 21 chapter members were granted Swine awards. These students were: Sage Adams, Reagan Anthony, Kelsey Bass, Corbin Bradow, Cage Brown, Jadlyn Brown, Alivia Brown, Nile Bryant, Jenna Byrd, Natalie Clark, Wyatt Derringer, Delaney Fennell, Jalei Meyers, Noah Ramsey, Madison Sikes, Caige Tidwell, Case Townsend, Taylor Turner, Tate Turner, Abgail Wingate and Braxton Young.
Delaney Fennell also earned a Dairy Award and Wren Wilkerson earned a Creed award.
Public Speaking awards were granted to Branford High School student Halleigh Ray Harris and Branford Middle School student Aubrey Wood.
Extemporaneous Public Speaking awards were granted to Branford High School student Seth Ramsey and Branford Middle School student Seth Humphries.
Lauren Fout received the Employability Skills award and Kaden Beville received the Tractor Driving award.
Wren Wilkerson and Rae Finch received awards for their Ornamental Horticulture Demonstration CDE.
Natalie Clark and Wren Wilkerson also received awards for their involvement in the Agriscience Fair.
Aubrey Wood received a Talent award and Sadie Miller received the State Talent award.
Team Awards were given to Branford FFA's Agricultural Issues Team, Aquaculture Team, Dairy Judging Team, Agricultural Mechanics Team, Meats Team, Land Judging Team, Horse Judging Team, Forestry Team and Poultry Team.
Congratulations to these students for representing a hard working FFA chapter.