Sims Named Georgia Star in Agriscience:  Johnson Wins Georgia Public Speaking

Reaud Sims and Devin Johnson lead the charge of many successes by FFA members of Lowndes County Schools at the recent Georgia FFA Convention. Nine other students won state competitions during the April 25 to 27, 2013, event.

Reaud Sims was named the Georgia Star in Agriscience at the first session of the convention.  Sims, a LHS senior, had developed an agriscience research project over the past three years where he designed, fabricated, and evaluated a desalinator for agricultural production.  The idea for this project began when he was a volunteer at a public garden to grow crops for the needy.

 Devin Johnson won the Senior Prepared Public Speaking Competition with a speech entitled, “Vegans on Trial.”  Johnson, a LHS senior, began this journey as a freshman competing in the junior division and found success four years later. She was named winner in the last session of the convention.

Several students won the state agricultural proficiency competition which requires an in-depth application and interview process.  Kayla Barker, LHS senior, won Plant Systems Research.  Ben Herring, LHS junior, won Specialty Crop Production.  Sims won Integrated Systems Research.

Conway McNeil of PGMS won the Junior Wood Fabrication CDE.  McNeil built a table of all maple, completed a detailed recordbook, and was interviewed on his way to this win.

A number of LHS students were successful in the Georgia Agriscience Fair:  Emily Warren and Hunter Corbett, Junior Environmental Systems Team; Chance Hingson, Junior Plant Systems; Ben and Landon Herring, Senior Food Systems Team; Callie Warren, Senior Food Systems; and, Kailee Smith and Kaylee Griffin, Senior Social Systems Team.

A number of other Lowndes students competed also:  Saleen Weldon (HMS), 2^ndin Treasurer’s Book; Sam Bennett (LHS), 2^nd in Sheep Production Proficiency and 3^rd in Animal Systems Research Proficiency; Brinson Coggins and Chandler Kudyk (LHS), 2^nd in Junior Animal Systems Team Agriscience Fair; Sims and Barker, Senior Plant Systems Team; Ian Bennett (LHS), 4^th in Senior Animal Systems Agriscience Fair; Taylor Greene (LHS), 4^th in Senior Plant Systems Agriscience Fair; Katie Boulay (HMS), Area Platinum SAE Recordbook; Tucker Barnes (HMS), Junior Prepared Public Speaking competitor.

The FFA Chapters of Lowndes Middle School, Pine Grove Middle School, and Hahira Middle School were recognized for 100% membership by the Georgia FFA Assocation.  Lowndes High School FFA was recognized as a Gold Emblem Chapter.

Ben Bennett (LHS) gave the invocation for the convention.  Bennett is the past Georgia FFA President.

A total of 44 students from Lowndes County Schools attended the convention. They were accompanied by parents and agriculture teachers.