The Newton County School System is pleased to announce that Alcovy High School’s FFA Team won second place honors in the senior division at the recent Northeast Georgia FFA Floriculture Development Event and will now advance to the state competition on March 20th, 2010, at the State FFA Center in Covington. The team is coached by Ben Brand. Team members included Ethan Kitchens, Luke Bagley and Kileen Ford.

“I am very proud of my students,” said Brand. “They have put in hours of practice and it is awesome that they have made it to the state competition.”

The FFA Floriculture competition is a career development event connecting classroom lessons to the green industry practices. During the competition, students identify plants, equipment, insects, diseases and weeds as well as take a written knowledge exam and complete problem solving questions.

“Achievements outside the classroom are a reflection of instructional excellence in the classroom — proven by Alcovy High School students”, said Dr. Teri Hamlin, a North Region Agriculture Education official, from the Georgia Department of Education.

“Mr. Brand does an outstanding job leading his students to excellence through his dedicated service and positive influence that gives his students a thirst for learning and striving to exhibit their very best in the FFA program,” added Dr. LaQuanda Brown, principal of Alcovy High School. “It is because of Mr. Brand’s enthusiasm that the students have gained such a strong love for FFA. As the principal of Alcovy High School, I am very excited for our FFA program.”

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 506,199 student members — all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture — as part of 7,429 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The National FFA Organization changed to its present name in 1988, in recognition of the growth and diversity of agriculture and agricultural education.

 The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. The National FFA Organization operates under a Federal Charter granted by the 81st Congress of the United States, and is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. The Georgia Department of Education provides leadership and helps set direction for FFA as a service to the local agricultural education programs.

For more information, contact the Newton County School System Department of Public Relations at viniard.sherri@newton.k12.ga.us.