FFA students advance to state

Five Warren County FFA students have finished first in the state and are headed to national competition.

‘This has been an excellent group to work with and there’s still a lot of potential on the way up here in Warren County,’ said Future Farmers of America advisor Russell Watson. ‘We have students who can compete with not only the best in the state, but with the best in the nation. There aren’t too many programs around here that can say that.’

Claiming first-place state awards are:

‘ Tillmon West ‘ beef production

‘ Lee-Allen Turner ‘ diversified agriculture production

‘ Evan Pearsall ‘ forage production

‘ Daniel Markum ‘ nursery operations

‘ Justin Cannon ‘ outdoor recreation

For West and Pearsall, it marks the second time they have won the state.

In national competition, students will vie for a spot in the coveted Final Four, which is held each year in Indianapolis, Ind. Students who reach the Final Four travel to Indianapolis to present their application and undergo an interview process.

Warren County has had 27 students advance to the Final Four, and six have claimed national titles. Lucky-area farmer Eric Hildreth is the county’s most recent national winner.

Other national winners are Patrick Robinson, Danny Hildreth, Anthony Curtis, Jeff Jones, and Zachary Merritt.

‘I think there’s a good chance we could have four students in the Final Four this year,’ said Watson.

In addition to individual awards, Warren County’s FFA chapter was named No. 1 in the nation for the second year in a row for its Hometown Scholarship ticket sales.

‘If you win it three years in a row, you’re a legend,’ said Hometown Scholarship regional coordinator Lonnie Johnson.

Other first-place district winners who captured regional or state-wide honors are:

‘ Erika Betschart ‘ 2nd in state in agriculture communication

‘ Tyler Grove ‘ 2nd in Middle Tennessee in agriculture mechanic repair and maintenance

‘ Cody Jackson Walker ‘ 3rd in Middle Tennessee in diversified horticulture

‘ Jacob Bost ‘ 1st in Middle Tennessee in diversified livestock

‘ Jessica Adcock ‘ 2nd in Middle Tennessee in equine production

‘ Morgan Wilcher ‘ 2nd in state in forest management.
‘We have students who can compete with not only the best in the state, but with the best in the nation.’

‘ Russell Watson