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The Bainbridge High School and Middle School FFA came together to host their end of the year banquet Tuesday evening in the Cloud Livestock Facility. Students, their families and school faculty all enjoyed a meal of pork chops, green beans and baked potatoes as the club officers presented the numerous awards the students had won over the previous year.

Before the students received their awards, BHS principle Roy Matthews, Superintendent Tim Cochran, CTAE director and BHS assistant principal Vonda Hubbard, and BMS assistant principle Quinten Fuller were honored by the students. “Thank you, Mr. Mathews. We appreciate the support that you and Mr. Fuller have given to the FFA this year. You have both proven your commitment to the students of each FFA chapter. You have insured that all our members have opportunities to be successful,” high school FFA president Weston Powell said.

The evening continued, with the awards presented as follows:
FFA Discovery Degrees were awarded to Olivia Griner, Owen Fleming, Evan Hutto, Kylie Miller, J.T. Powell, Madison King, Bansi Patel, Haisten Wilkinson, Kierstyn White, Landon Temples, Dawson Cottles, John Stout, and Abby Grubbs.

For High School Career Development Events, the Senior Meats Evaluation Team placed second in the Area Five CDE, and sixth at state. All team members placed in the top 10 at Area, with McKenzie Hand placing second, Rachel Hayes fourth, Macy Goodman sixth, and Rylan Bland in ninth.

The Agricultural Technology and Engineering Team placed first in Area 5 and twelfth at state, with members of the team including Cy Taunton, Ethan Burke, Joel Medrano and Mason Gardner.

The Junior Meats Evaluation Team placed third in the Area 5 CDE, with the team consisting of Addison Cook, Ansley Cook, Grayson Griffin and Sophia Black-Dalton.

There were both junior and senior Floral Design competitors, with Reese Godby representing senior and Ansley Cook representing junior. Both were in the top two for Sub-Area CDE, with Godby placing fourth and Cook placing fifth at Area 5.

The Agricultural Sales Team placed second in Area 5 and twelfth at state, with the team made up of Kaycee Brooks, Simpson Bowles, Macy Goodman and Weston Powell, with Lawson Murray participating at state.

For the Tractor and Machinery Operations and Maintenance event, only Ashton Aldridge participated, placing fourth in Area 5.

The Horse Evaluation team, consisting of Reid Broulliett, Kathryn Cohen, Reese Godby and Mackenzie Vickers, placed fifth in Area 5.

The Veterinary Science team, with members Devetress Green, Simpson Bowles, Reese Godby and Lawson Murray won Area 5.

The Senior Poultry Evaluation Team placed first for Area 5, with Brent Miller individually coming in second, Ashton Aldridge in third, Rachel Hayes in fifth, and Pierce Taunton sixth. The team went on to state, where they placed fourth, with Aldridge placing eighth individually.

The Farm Business Management team, consisting of Lizzy Thompson, Mason Smith, Pierce Taunton and Weston Powell, placed fourth in Area 5.

There were both a Junior and Senior Floriculture team this year, with Grayson Griffin, Addison Cook, Ansley Cook and Sophia Black-Dalton on the Junior team placing ninth in Area 5. McKenzie Vickers, Alison Myers, Kevin Cardozo and Skyler Odom made up the Senior team and placed sixth for Area 5.

Several members of the livestock show team were honored with various awards. These included: Ansley Cook named Reserve Champion All Other Breeds Heifer at the GA National Fair; Abby Grubbs being awarded her first showmanship belt buckle; and Carson Lynn showing the Grand Champion Crossbred Gilt at the National Swine Registry Winter Type Conference.

Students also competed in Leadership Development Events (LDEs) over the year. Ethan Burke, Addison Cook, Ansley Cook, Grayson Griffin, Sam Surratt, Carson Lynn and Cy Taunton competed in the Conduct of Chapter Meetings Leadership LDE, placing third for Area 5.

Brent Miller placed seventh at Area 5 in the Employability Skills LDE.

The Senior Parliamentary Procedure team came in second at Area 5, advancing to state, where they placed eleventh. Taryn Powell, Jeb Logue, Brent Miller, Pierce Taunton, Ashton Aldridge and Carson Lynn make up the team, with Mason Smith competing for Area 5.

Three FFA members received Agricultural Proficiency Awards. They were: Pierce Taunton in fourth with Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance at Area 5; Ashton Aldridge in second for Dairy Production at Area 5; and Brent Miller winning Poultry Production Entrepreneurship for Area 5, and becoming state runner up.

Ashton Aldridge was named top 7 in the National FFA Convention Talent Competition, for his piano and vocal performance of “All of Me.”

Several members were awarded with their Greenhand Degrees; these were: Sam Surratt, Carson Lynn, Cy Taunton, Joel Medrano, Ethan Burke, Grayson Griffin, Ansley Cook, Addison Cook, Mason Gardner and Sophia Black-Dalton.

After this, Kathryn Cohen, Lawson Murray, Simpson Bowles, Skylar Odom, Reese Godby, Taryn Powell, Jeb Logue, Macy Goodman, Kaycee Brooks, Rachel Hayes and Rylan Bland were awarded their chapter FFA degrees.

Carson Lynn was awarded the 2021 Star Greenhand Award, and Weston Powell was awarded the 2021 Star Chapter Farmer Award.

State FFA degrees were awarded to Ashton Aldridge, Brent Miller ,Weston Powell, Pierce Taunton and Madalyn Yancey.

Lawson Murray was the winner of the Blue and Gold Award for this year, while Simpson Bowles was given the Jeff Godwin Friendliest Ag Student award.

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit was given the Gold and Blue Business award, for “a commitment to providing opportunities for students.” Mrs. Misty Davis-Loyd was given the Blue and Gold Individual Award.

Mr. and Mrs. Jule Powell and Mr. and Mrs. Bill Spooner were all awarded Bainbridge FFA Honorary Degrees for their contributions to the chapter.

To close the banquet, the new officers for the 2021-2022 school year were officially announced. The new officers are: President, Brent Miller; Vice President, Ashton Aldridge; Secretary, Pierce Taunton; Reporter, Lawson Murray; Treasurer, Taryn Powell; Sentinel, Carson Lynn; and Chaplain, Kathryn Cohen.

“I’m very satisfied with the turn-out,” Advisor Victoria Rawls said. “The end-of-the-year banquet is where you get to show off the students with all of their awards. It’s 100% student-led, so it gets to show off their quality of leadership.”