I am endlessly thankful for the opportunities that agriculture classes provided for me at Franklin County. From making lifelong friends, to also growing professionally, the Franklin County agriculture department is the reason I am who I am today. The professional benefits gained from the ag department are countless. From holding chapter meetings, to learning parliamentary procedure meetings, to completing tasks through group work, these classes taught me how to communicate professionally and effectively. The connections that I met through the agriculture department have helped me gain credibility in the workforce. I am currently a junior at the University of Kentucky studying Business and Organizational Communications hoping to pursue a career in human resources. FFA taught me to focus on creating values for others and to do so in an efficient way.

I am the Greenhouse Manager for the College of Agriculture, Communities and Environment at Kentucky State University. The ag classes I took while at Franklin County High school helped me discover my interest and love for plants and horticulture. They were a great foundation to help me pursue a degree in the agriculture field. The greenhouse production class particularly prepared me for the job I have today by teaching me the fundamentals and science of growing, caring for plants, and plant sales/marketing. FFA helped me strengthen and perfect my public speaking and networking skills, which are vital skills I use in the workplace everyday.

Hi! My name is Sammie Arnold and currently I am a College Junior at Murray State University majoring in Exercise Science Pre-Health Professional which puts me on track to earn my Doctorate in Physical Therapy. I also have a minor in Agriculture Sciences which I recently completed by attending a Study Abroad Educational trip to Ireland. Taking Agriculture Courses at Franklin County High School helped me develop my passion of Agriculture by introducing me to the FFA. Through the FFA and Agriculture Courses I was able to push myself to get out of my comfort zone and strive to better myself as a student by giving me multiple opportunities to improve on my public speaking, teaching me that I was responsible for completing all my task, and developing a sense of awareness that my actions do affect others especially in a leadership or group project setting. I am extremely thankful that I took agriculture courses and believe it has helped me get to where I am today.

I graduated from FCHS in 2013 and went to the University of Kentucky to study Animal Science. I got my Bachelors of Science in Animal Science in 2017 and went to work for the Kentucky Department of Wildlife Resources at the Salato Wildlife Education Center. My title is Conservation Educator which means that I teach kids of all ages and adults about Kentucky wildlife. At Salato I also train and do educational programs with our animals. I’ve worked closely with numerous animals at the center, but the birds are my favorite. I help train falcons, hawks, owls and I also train with our groundhog and skunk. I was just recently hired on at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens as an educator. I work nights there as an Overnight Adventures instructor and work with armadillos, snakes and turtles. I was in FFA all four years of high school and I am so thankful for everything that the organization and Mr. Douglas taught me. I participated in multiple judging competitions (livestock, land, equine) and speaking competitions (parli, impromptu, prepared public) throughout my time in FFA. I watched my confidence bloom through practice interviews and competitions and without FFA I am CERTAIN that I wouldn’t be who I am today.

After spending 4 years with the Franklin County FFA Chapter, I graduated in 2017. I then began my journey at the University of Kentucky to pursue a degree in Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, along with a certificate in Distillation, Wine, and Brewing studies. Without taking the agriculture classes in high school, I would not have made the decision to pursue an agriculture related degree. Agriculture classes brought to my attention to growing issue of the lack of food supplies as the population grows, which is why I hope to one day use my field of study to help resolve this problem. Studying engineering requires a lot of the skills that I learned through agriculture classes and the FFA, mostly communication. I am always having to be open minded and willing to communicate with others during group work, as well as when speaking to potential employers at the career fair. In terms of social life, the FFA has helped me make plenty of new friends. I’m not afraid to talk to new people and try new things. Being open allowed me to meet new people and has even given me the opportunities to travel to new places like their hometowns. There are also plenty of scholarship opportunities through the agriculture industry, and it’s important to take advantage of those. The FFA is the reason I am where I am today, and I hope that the FFA helps others as much as it helped me.

My name is Adam Jones and I currently farm on the east side of Franklin county with my family focusing primarily on produce and pumpkins. Agritourism is very important in our operation. I also have around 150 laying hens that are producing and 150 more that will start laying in the spring. I sell eggs along with produce and beef at farmers markets all over central Kentucky. I also sell lots of firewood and furniture in the winter months. Although I was not in FFA I took Ag classes while I was at Franklin county and learned a lot from Mr. Douglas. I use information learned in my animal science class daily dealing with cattle and other livestock. If I had not been so active in sports I would’ve enjoyed more time with the FFA. I love farming and ag and I hope to do it my whole life. Franklin County's Ag program is great and is very good at getting teens involved in Ag throughout the county and more. I was glad to have Mr Douglas as a teacher and still enjoy discussing Ag and ways to help out to this day. I’m sure Ms. Jackson will be the same!

I graduated from Franklin County High School in 2013 and was very involved in FFA and served as the FFA secretary. I gained a lot from FFA, and it helped shape me as a public speaker. It helped show me the importance of being both knowledgeable about a subject matter while also teaching me the importance of having skilled speaking techniques. Once I graduated High School, I attended Transylvania University in Lexington, KY. I was a member of the golf team and Tri Delta Sorority. I majored in Exercise Science and minored in Psychology. I had the opportunity to study abroad many times during my time at Transylvania. I traveled to places like Peru, Africa, Guatemala, Nepal, Thailand, and Europe. Experiences like this took me outside of my comfort zone. I attribute FFA to helping me learn to love getting out of my comfort zone and doing things that I usually wouldn’t do. After graduation, I pursued a Master of Healthcare Administration degree at the University of Louisville in Louisville, KY. Through this opportunity, I have been able to attend conferences, participate in research, and broaden my professional network. My ease with public speaking did help me excel in my program.

I’m Anna Phillips, I’m currently a senior at Eastern Kentucky University where I major in Agribusiness Management. Without the FFA program at Franklin County I would have never ended up in the Ag department at EKU. In FFA, I grew in my public speaking skills, gained a love for the rich history grounded in Agriculture and learned leadership skills I would later put to good use in my college career. Since my time in college, I’ve gotten to experience working on EKU Meadowbrook farms for several classes, I’ve traveled to Ireland to study their sustainable farming practices for upper division Agriculture credits, and I have grown in my passion for the Agriculture Industry as a whole.

Keenan R. Bishop is the UK Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for Franklin County. Prior to his current position with UK, he was the Assistant Farm Manager for the Kentucky State University Research and Demonstration Farm. In between, he worked briefly for the Dry Stone Conservancy in training and development.

Keenan grew up on a farm in Franklin County and attended the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture where he received his B.S. in Production Agriculture. He currently lives on a small farm in northern Franklin County with his wife Leslie and two daughters, Bailey and Carley. In addition to raising beef cattle, chickens and a kitchen garden, he enjoys custom farming and practicing the craft of dry stone masonry.

​I have always enjoyed working with animals, especially horses. Participating in Franklin County’s Agriculture programs and FFA gave me the opportunity to renew my passion for horses by participating on the Equine Judging team as well as being able to take equine related courses. Because of the agriculture department and FFA at Franklin County, it guided me to decide to attend the University of Kentucky with a major in Equine Science and Management. I am now in my sophomore year at UK and working my first jobs within the thoroughbred industry prepping broodmares for the November sale at Grovendale Farm and working the September sale for Shawhan Place LLC.

After graduating from FCHS in 2013 I graduated from BCTC with an associate’s degree in Civil Engineering and technology in May of 2017. I now work for the KY Transportation Cabinet where I hold a position as a construction inspector which oversees the contracted highway construction or rehabilitation work. Agriculture has a significant role in road construction. We need to know what type of soil the road is being placed on, will it easily erode, how high does the water table reach in this area, what type of drainage system is needed to keep water and other elements off the road so that it is safe, what environmental effects will occur from the changes we make in that area? Lucky for me the majority of my high school career was spent laying the “groundwork” learning about natural drainage systems, different types of soils, and how these affect the land and structures around it. Not only do I get to incorporate my basic ag classes into my career but also skills I learned being an FFA member, mainly COMMUNICATION skills. Never would I have imagined that the team building activities, leadership seminars, and even the parli team would play such a major role in my adult life. I see every day how people in my work field miscommunicate details regarding everything from scheduling, payments, material calculations, receiving instructions or even giving instructions to others.

My name is Michael Hudkins and I was the president of the Franklin County FFA chapter the 2013-2014 school year. I am currently employed at Topy America. FFA gave me so many tools that carry over to my life today. It gave me the ability to communicate in an effective way with my co workers and management, it also taught me to be a leader no matter what role I am given, lastly it gave me the drive and motivation to go to college and earn a degree. FFA is a gateway to a successful life and career.

​Hello, my name is Brandi Grimes! I graduated from FCHS in 2012, I was a part of FFA & Ag classes all 4 years of school! Being a part ​​of the FFA & Ag program has benefited me more then I ever thought it would after high school! My husband & I plus our two children live on 70 acres where we raise Angus cattle! We deal with hay each year for the cattle & just every day care for them! I do something on a daily basis that requires the knowledge of what I learned in the classes I took in school at least once a day, whether it be helping my husband work on equipment, feed the cows, haul or move hay or simply what I'm cooking that night for my family! Being a part of the FCHS Ag program & having had the chance to learn all I have from Mr. Douglas has made me forever grateful! I know how to raise a garden for food for my family, I can preg-check a momma cow if need be, I can give cattle shots, ear tags, and band a bull calf. I know how artificial insemination works, I know how to drive a tractor, & so much more! I learned all of this & much much more because I was a part of the Ag program! Mr. Douglas was & still is today a great teacher & my family & I are lucky to still have a friendship with him! I am a proud Alumni of the FCHS FFA & Ag program!

​Hello my name is Mariah Butler and I graduated in 2018 and was in FFA for three years. I w​​as on the junior and senior parli teams. I was on the Ag lab and help feed calf’s and chickens over the years. FFA has shaped me who I am today. Being in FFA has taught me be responsible, open-minded, how to be a good leader and showed me hard work. Even though I’m not going into the agriculture field I really enjoyed my time in FFA and I will continue to use the things I’ve learned in FFA throughout the years. I go to BCTC in Lawrenceburg,KY to become and RN.

​Hi, my name is Kiana Smither, formally Kiana Butler and I was a member of the FCHS FFA all four years of high school. I was also associated with the ag lab, took all available ag classes, became Mr. Douglas’s student aid, and participated in a variety of FFA events and teams. I am currently enrolled at Midway University and will graduate with my business degree December 2018. Being a member of the FFA has really shaped who I am today. I learned responsibility, public speaking, leadership, time management and the value of hard work. Because of these skills I now manage and run my own professional business at the age of 21, K.M. Smither Photography. My favorite part of FFA was raising our bottle calves and I look forward to passing along this experience and teaching such a strong responsibility to my own family some day! I am so thankful for the opportunities that were provided to me through such an amazing organization. I wouldn’t be who I am, or where I am today without it.

​ I'm an honorary FFA member. I was the district Communications Coordinator before I retired. I took a lot of pictures and wrote stories about all the great things the AG students did.

​I am currently a freshman at Murray State University studying Agriscience Technology with a Health and Environment emphasis. My agriculture classes helped me get to where I am because they introduced me to different fields of agriculture that I had never been involved in. I had always been around animals but other ag classes offered at Franklin Co. inspired me to try a different route in agriculture which is why I’m currently studying Ag Technology. Besides Ag classes, FFA actually introduced me to Murray State by competing in the Vet Science CDE. Without the opportunity to visit then, I probably wouldn’t have considered MSU. My experience in Agriculture and FFA has allowed me to earn an internship with the Hutson School of Agriculture working as a Farm Animal Teaching/ Lab Assistant.

​I’m currently an Engineer at Franklin County Fire Department, and have worked there for 6 years. I also work at L.A.B. Fabricating with my father and brother, where we do metal fabrication, welding, and structural steel. I am an Emergency Medical Technician, Hazardous Materials Technician, a State Fire Instructor, and State Certified Welder. The agriculture classes I had in high school and the FFA were very influential in my career path, not so much the curriculum, but the aspects of leadership, respect for others and myself, and taking advantage of opportunities given to me. I will always cherish the time I spent in FFA and Agriculture, and hope future students can have the same if not a better time than I did.

I am an Agriculture teacher at Murphy Middle School located in Cherokee County, NC where I teach 6th, 7th and 8th grade. I’m currently in my second year teaching and love every minute. I graduated from FCHS in 2007 and went on to the University of Kentucky where I majored in Agriculture Communications, Public Service and Leadership. After graduation I worked at the KY Department of Agriculture and then on to the USDA before getting back to my passion, Ag Education. During my time as an agriculture student at FCHS I found my passion for FFA, Agriculture Education and community service. I’m honored to have been apart of such an incredible agriculture program and FFA chapter.

​I’m working at horse farm in Midway/ Versailles called Bonne Chance plus I help my uncle in the afternoons with cattle, tobacco, and hay!! My Ag classes helped me learn the signs of when the cattle and horses are sick and how to treat them. The classes also helped me learn how their digestive systems work and the feed that is needed to feed them and also the basic needs of maintaining the livestock and equine farms for successful numbers of baby calves and foals.

​I am currently a Communication Studies major with a double minor in Agriculture and Event Planning at Western Kentucky University. The Franklin County Ag department helped me to step out of my comfort zone and become a better version of myself. My advisor, Mr. Douglas, encouraged me to speak up and not be afraid to be a leader. The leadership skills that I gained while being a member of the Ag department and FFA helped me to find my place at WKU. The love that I developed for public speaking during my time in the department is greatly assisting me in my major and will continue to benefit me in my post-college career.

​Hi, my name is Carly Wilkerson. I graduated in spring of 2018 and I now attend Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY. I’m majoring in Criminal Justice and serve as a Chi Omega. My major deals with hundreds of thousands different people serving as law enforcement officers to inmates. Without agriculture they wouldn’t be able to get fed 3 square meals a day and be able to wear the clothes on their back. Agriculture is everywhere and in every business, it just takes people who love it and have a background in it, to be able to realize it!

After graduating from WKU in 2017 with a degree in Organizational Leadership, I accepted a job with MCI/AST (Manufacturing Consultants International/Abatement Solutions Technologies) in Louisville, KY as a project manager. I have recently concluded my employment with the company and am now pursuing my real estate license to begin working in residential and commercial real estate. I was a member of the Franklin County High School FFA chapter for 3 years, serving as Vice President during my final year. Our FFA chapter served as an incredible source of social interaction; creating a family like atmosphere. Some of my fondest memories of my high school years can be traced back to the several events and competitions our chapter experienced together. The values of FFA, specifically "living to serve", have been a guiding force for me during my young professional journey up to this point. Being a member of the Franklin County FFA taught me many things about agriculture; but it also taught me how to lead, be part of a team, and be the best person I can be. I am a proud alumnus of the Franklin County FFA, and always will be. My adviser and ag teacher Kylen Douglas set the perfect example for the young men and women in our Ag programs and FFA; I am forever grateful for his guidance and friendship over the years.

I graduated from UK with a degree in Agriculture Economics and a minor in Business working in parts for a John Deere dealership, then in sales at another Deere dealership. Currently I work for my father's fabrication business as a certified welder and fabricator. FFA taught me how to work hard, pay attention to detail, help others, be devoted, take pride in everything I do, and to be professional. I had a lot of good experiences and challenges while in FFA that helped me get to where I am today.

​My name is Alex Wheatley and I graduated with the class of 2018. Most of my time in high school was spent taking care of the calves in the Ag-Lab, watering the greenhouse, and teaching ​​the freshman all about the importance of agriculture and the FFA. As I grew as an individual, I developed a passion for educating student about their role in the agricultural industry. When I was accepted into the University of Kentucky, I knew that their Agriculture Education program was right for me. Since then I have been studying the best strategies for educating people of all ages and my passion has only gotten stronger. The FFA, Farm Bureau, and Franklin County made me the individual I am today, and because of them I am motivated every day to get out and Agvocate for Agriculture Education.

My name is Chelsea Smither and I was in the graduating class of 2018. I am currently majoring in Agriculture Education at the University of Kentucky. At UK, I have joined organizations like Block & Bridle, Ag Ed Society, and the agriculture sorority Sigma Alpha. The agriculture classes I took while at FCHS, helped me to find my love of agriculture, taught me about hard work and responsibility, and gave me background knowledge for my major.

I attended Franklin County High School between 2012 and 2016. During this time I had taken 6 agricultural courses and was apart of the Land Judging team. Currently, I attend the University of Kentucky where I major in Biology and plan to attend medical school in 1 year. Animal Science, an Ag class offered then, provided me with a rare opportunity to palpate a live cow. This opportunity guided my interest into the medical field.

I graduated from Franklin County in 1967 and had a long career in agricultural chemicals, professional products and flowers genetics after graduating from the University of KY where I received my BS and MS degrees. I owe my career success to the platform that I built in FFA and the Ag Ed classroom. I was fortunate to serve as the President of the Franklin County Chapter and as the Kentucky State Reporter in 1967-68. It was through FFA that I developed leadership skills, learned the basics of sales and marketing through my SAE projects, basic financial principles, and developed my interpersonal skills. I was able to build on these throughout college and during my career. Without FFA and the support of my advisors I would never have had this opportunity. It was a difference maker for me and gave me the confidence to lead in college and in my professional career. I have stayed involved with FFA having served on the National FFA Foundation Board. I currently serve on the Kentucky Foundation Board and will serve as Chairman next year. In addition I work with Boyle County FFA Chapter and the Franklin County Chapter where I get my most satisfaction helping young people.

​Erin is a 2015 graduate of Franklin County High School and has had a passion for horses since childhood. An aspiring three day event rider and former barrel racer, she has a wide range of experience through multiple equestrian disciplines. Erin is currently a student at the North American Racing Academy and will be receiving an Associate's Degree in Equine Science 2019 before continuing on to the University of Kentucky to pursue a Bachelor's in Marketing. She is also a working student for local dressage rider and trainer Ellen Murphy. In Erin's junior and senior year of high school she was on Franklin County's equine judging team and the knowledge she gained from that experience helped her have a leg up in her equine classes throughout college, especially in the field of bloodstock. Her goals are to ride and train event horses on a professional level specializing in off the track thoroughbreds as well as teaching and mentoring up and coming young riders.

I am currently a junior/senior at Western Kentucky University. I will graduate in the fall of 2019, then I plan to pursue a graduate program. I am an Agriculture major with a concentration in Animal Science. I am a sister of the Sigma Alpha sorority and a member of the Sigma Alpha Pi Organization. FFA and Mr. Douglas' agricultural classes have helped me in tremendous ways. The FFA helped me with public speaking on research products, it helped me find a home within the Sigma Alpha sorority, and it pushed me to further my agricultural career. Mr. Douglas's agriculture classes helped me get ahead in school. Every class I took in his program I have also taken some form of it in college. With the knowledge that he gave me in each class has allowed me to graduate a semester earlier.

My name is Ryan Halligan, I graduated from FCHS in 2012. While I was in high school I was involved in FFA parliamentary procedure, impromptu speeches, as well as livestock and land judging. All of those activities later went on to benefit me in college or in jobs and internships. I recently graduated from the UK College of Agriculture with my degree in Agriculture Economics and minors in Business and Political Science. I started a position with Valvoline Inc. at their corporate headquarters in Lexington in August and have began a Master's program with Harvard University Extension School in Government. My agriculture courses in high school and FFA involvement benefited me in so many ways through out of the classroom experiences, preparing me for college courses, and allowing me to take college courses through Murray State University which was a major benefit. I was able to spend a semester on the University of Kentucky Livestock Judging Team and the UK College of Ag Student Council both of which I attribute to my involvement with FFA in high school.

I am a 2013 FCHS graduate and participated in FFA for 2 years, where Mr. Douglas forced me against my better judgement to compete in public speaking and parli team (I’m kidding of course, I will always thank him for that). I graduated from the University of Kentucky in May of 2017 with a BS in Animal Science and a minor in Biology. During my time at UK, I participated in various clubs and activities through the College of Agriculture and got involved in research, specifically with cattle. I am now at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln working on my Master's in Reproductive Physiology in the Animal Science Department. My research focuses on understanding the mechanisms behind infertility in beef cattle and how it can apply to Nebraska producers with their herds. I can say full-heartedly that I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for taking the Animal Science class and participating in FFA in high school. In that class, Mr. Douglas introduced us to so many aspects of the animal agriculture industry and I remember being so interested in all of it that I knew that its what I wanted to do in life. Coming from a non-ag background, it was my first exposure to the reproductive industry in cattle and I am so thankful for all of it!

​My name is Micheala McCane and I am a former president of the Franklin County FFA chapter. I served as regional treasurer for the 2016-2017 school year and enjoyed every minute of my time in the National FFA Organization. . My favorite part about my time at Franklin County high school was raising my laying hens and selling eggs to faculty and staff. So much so, that after high school, I got my Associates in Art and Science from Bluegrass Community Technical College and am now pursuing my bachelors in Agriculture, Food, and Environment with a focus in Agriculture Business at Kentucky State University.

My name is Alexa Ferrell, I graduated from Franklin County High School in the fall of 2012 then moving forward to Eastern Kentucky University where I would complete a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture (emphasis in pre-vet) with a minor in Chemistry in three years. This allowed me to apply early to veterinary school and getting accepted to Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. I am now a 4th year and will graduate in the coming May of 2019. In high school I was very involved the FFA and agriculture classes. I felt it was an excellent way to meet important members of the community, obtain a solid background in animal sciences and build my personal resume. FCHS’ agriculture department and the FFA program help me to become a more confident student and really build the foundation I would need to stand on in order to continue towards my profession. As a veterinary student I have traveled and worked at the Louisville Zoo, Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, The Wilds, Denver Zoo, and the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital.