Tucker County High School welcomed the National F.F.A. Vice-President, Eastern Region, recently.
Wes Davis, of Mason County, West Virginia, came to the school to visit and tour the Ag program.
Davis was introduced by Andrew Hauser and following a power-point presentation on the F.F.A. and its national convention, gave an inspirational and humorous speech to the entire student body. T.C.H.S. was honored to host Davis who is the first National F.F.A. (Future Farmers of America)officer from West Virginia in 39 years. Back in the 1950’s West Virginia had a strong presence in the F.F.A. producing many national officers.
Davis is the national vice-president of the Eastern Region which is the largest F.F.A. region by number of states involved. West Virginia has 76 chapters. Locally, our Tucker County Chapter has 32 members. West Virginia has over 5,200 members, which is the second highest membership in 25 years according to Nathan Taylor, State F.F.A. Executive Secretary. Nationally there are around 610,000 members which makes it the largest curriculum based student organization in the United States. The F.F.A.’s national conventions, which have attendance of over 60,000, are the largest conventions in the nation with the exception of every four years the national democratic and republican conventions.
Taylor said that F.F.A. isn’t just cows, plows, and sows. He said it also produces future leaders of America, teaching them things like leadership skills, public speaking, and parliamentary law.
Davis, who was 2012 West Virginia State President, spoke about his trip to Japan to meet with Future Farmers of Japan and meeting with the Assistant Minister of Agricultural Education for all of Japan.
A member for eight years, Davis has come a long way from buying one chicken at the county fair for a dollar to 350 birds which he sells to homes, schools, and restaurants in his area. Not bad for someone who lived on two acres and was put in to the Ag. program by mistake.
Davis said he loves helping fellow students find that same opportunity. He likes showing students they can find their place in the program and to help others find their purpose.
Mr. James Nester, Tygart Valley District Supervisor, came especially to meet with Davis whom he had heard many good things of. Nester also had good things to say about Tucker County High School calling the Ag. program one of the top in the state.
Davis wasn’t alone in his visit. T.C.H.S. also welcomed two state officers: Miss Jesse Walker of Moorefield and Miss Cheyenne Conrath of Petersburg.
With the renewed energy in our local Ag. program perhaps it won’t be long before Tucker County can boast of a state or national officer in this truly American youth program.
For more information on the Future Farmers of America go to: www.ffa.org .
