The featured FFA member this week is Jacob Woods. Jacob has been in the FFA since his sophomore year where he started out in Ag Science.

As a sophomore, Jacob kept records on his SAE which was focused on the history of the FFA. He conducted research of the origins of the FFA and the events that have shaped the FFA that we know today. During his 10th grade year, Jacob was quickly involved in FFA activities and contests. As a sophomore, Jacob participated in a couple different CDE’s.

Jacob was on the Nursery Landscape and Turf Contest CDE’s and helped lead his team to a 2nd place honor in both events on the State level. Jacob is now a junior and continues to maintain records on his SAE which is focused on Poultry management and maintaining chickens.

Jacob plans on participating in the Nursery Landscape CDE and Floriculture CDE this spring in hopes of leading his team to another placement on the State level.

The featured Officer this week is Historian Raegan Helms. Raegan has been in the FFA since her 9th grade year. She is now in her 10th grade year and a sophomore at Buford High School.

As a freshman, Raegan traveled with her fellow FFA members to the State Convention this past June. Raegan’s SAE in her 9th grade year was focused on Goat Management.

Although Raegan had goats at home which she kept records on for her SAE, she also kept records on one goat who had a lasting impact and relationship within our FFA Chapter. This goat's name was Jet.

Jet quickly became the mascot of the Buford FFA Chapter. Raegan is now in her 10th grade year at Buford High School and although she isn’t currently in an Ag class, she continues to make contributions to her SAE focused on Cow and Goat Management.

This year Raegan has traveled with her fellow Officers to the National Convention in late October, and fellow FFA members to the State Fair. Raegan is the chairperson for the Picnic committee that will be held in the spring.

This February Raegan plans on traveling with her fellow Officers to Legislative Day in Columbia to meet our state Senators.

The featured Officer this week is Morgan Watford, Chapter Reporter.

Morgan is in her 10th grade year of high school and has been in the FFA since last year when she was a freshman. This is Morgan’s first year being on the Officer Team. Morgan has consistently contributed to her SAE throughout her FFA career.

Last year, Morgan’s SAE was rebuilding her bathroom. Throughout this project, Morgan worked on electrical for running lights and installed a new bathtub and shower. Morgan participated in the Creed Speaking CDE as a freshman.

This year, Morgan has attended the COW, Chapter Officer Workshop, State Fair and National Convention. Morgan’s SAE this year is focused on gardening. Morgan started by growing tomatoes and learning how she can improve their growth but later switched to growing Black Petunias.

Morgan had to learn what she is able to grow in her yard and the types of plants that would survive. Morgan is the chairperson of our Tailgate Committee in the spring. She is planning a tailgate for one of Buford’s Softball games.

Morgan plans to participate in the Public Speaking CDE this year and travel with her Chapter Officers to Columbia and attend Legislative Day.

The featured Officer this week is Sentinel, Jakob Catoe.

Jake is a sophomore at Buford High School and has been in the FFA since his 9th grade year.

This is Jake’s first year as an Officer, but Jake has been an active member ever since he enrolled.

As a freshman, Jake competed in the Tool ID CDE and travelled with his fellow FFA members to the State Convention this past fall.

Jake is now a sophomore and has lots of plans for this year. Already Jake has attended the Chapter Officer Workshop in September, and travelled with his fellow Officers last week to the National Convention in Indianapolis, IN.

For both years of his FFA career, Jake has maintained records for his SAE focused on performing maintenance on his fathers Peterbilt 379 semi-truck. Jake is the chairman of his Fishing Day Committee which is planned for mid-November.

Next spring, Jake intends on participating in the Ag Mechanics CDE and travelling with fellow FFA members to the State Convention once again!

The featured Officer this week is Chaplin, Kasey Catoe. Kasey is in her 10th grade year of high school and has been in the FFA since last year when she was a freshman.

During her 9th grade year, Kasey maintained great records on her SAE. Kasey’s SAE was focused on Equine Mentoring, or the Management and Training of Horses. As a freshman, Kasey did not have an Officer position but was still active in FFA events and activities.

Kasey participated in the Tool ID CDE where she solidified her desire to do more within the FFA. Kasey is now a sophomore and has many plans for this year. Kasey plans to participate in the Poultry CDE this year. Kasey has also attended the State Fair earlier this week, and plans to travel with her fellow Officers to the National Convention next week. T

his winter, Kasey plans to travel with her Officer Team to Columbia and meet our State Legislators on Legislative Day. Kasey still keeps records on her SAE for Equine Mentoring. Kasey often uses her horses for meditational purposes as she finds riding horses a relaxing time to herself.

Kasey is also the chairperson of our Bowling committee coming up in November where FFA members will travel to a local bowling center and have the opportunity for fun competition amongst one another.

The featured Officer this week is President, Tyler Tilson. Although Tyler hasn’t been in the FFA for as long as his fellow Officers, Tyler has demonstrated the personality traits of an FFA Officer throughout his time in our program.

Tyler began his FFA career last fall as he started in Ag Science. In his junior year, Tyler’s SAE was focused on Landscaping and Landscape Management. Tyler kept great records on his SAE and the work he completed throughout his first semester in Ag.

This past June, Tyler traveled with Officers from last year's team and other FFA members to the State Convention in Greenville. Although this was the first event Tyler participated in, going to the State Convention solidified his want to become a Chapter Officer.

Tyler is now a senior and was awarded with the title of President on this year’s Chapter Officer Team. Tyler is still contributing each week to his Landscape SAE, but this year he started a new SAE where he writes and revises reports on Chapter activities and submits them to Mr. Collier to upload to The Stinger.

This year Tyler was the chairman of our Parent / Member Night on October 6th. Tyler attended the Chapter Officer Workshop in September, and has many events he plans to attend this year.

Tyler will be traveling to the State Fair and National Convention in October, competing in the Turf & Lawn Management CDE in December, attending Legislator Day in February, the Ag Mechanics and Horticulture CDE’s in the spring, and once again attending State Convention next June.

Lastly, Tyler has his eyes set on running for a State Officer position in the spring and becoming a part of next year’s State Officer Team!

Not too long ago we had a pig greet us in our Ag Department! Hanna Walters, an FFA member, brought in her pig Milly to be trained and get used to having people around her.

Hanna is currently working with Milly to drink by herself from an established water system. Hanna is taking care of Milly for her SAE and keeping records on the amount she eats, her weight, and ensuring she’s taking the correct steps to keep Milly in great health.

Hanna is also taking steps to train Milly to become a show pig for showing events. Milly is a potbellied pig, but she doesn’t have a reactive personality commonly seen in other potbellied pigs. Although Millie's age is not exactly known, it is estimated that she is around 2 to 3 years old which means she is still considered a piglet.

Milly arriving at our Ag Department has made a positive impact on our staff and student body as they frequently stop by to see Millie and the many other new animals that have settled into our department.

The featured Officer this week is Secretary Fernanda Loaeza. Fernanda has been in the FFA since her 9th grade year where she was the Chapter Reporter.

Fernanda has made consistent contributions to her SAE and as a freshman Fernanda focused on Food Processing where she kept records on making jams using strawberries and making pumpkin butter. During her 9th grade year, Covid-19 was still in full force, and Fernanda attended the 2020 FFA National Convention virtually. Fernanda was also the chairman of the Pig Maskarade event hosted for elementary school students during her freshman year.

In her 10th grade year Fernanda was awarded with the title of Treasurer on our Officer Team. Fernanda contributed to her SAE through Upcycling, where she took broken skateboards and turned them into rings. Fernanda participated in the COW, Chapter Officer Workshop, as a sophomore and later attended Legislative Day with her fellow Chapter Officers.

Fernanda is now a junior and the Secretary on this year’s Officer Team. Her SAE this year is focused on Crop Production and growing lavender. Fernanda is a representative for our Greener Growers meetings hosted each month and the chairman of our Mid-year Awards Ceremony this December. Fernanda plans on attending Legislator’s Day this February and representing our Chapter at the State Capitol.

This week, the featured FFA Officer is Treasurer, Blake Gilmore. As Blake follows in the footsteps of his sister, former FFA President Bailey Gilmore, he continues to do incredible work within the FFA concerning his SAE and FFA activities. As a freshman, Blake got to see first hand what the FFA was and the opportunities that he’d be given the chance to participate in.

Blake has kept great records on his SAE throughout his time in the FFA. Last year, Blake’s SAE was focused on Gardening, where he learned skills in taking cuttings, transplanting, and planting mums and other flowers throughout his yard. Blake learned how to properly maintain a garden and provide his garden with the proper nutrients and maintenance it needed to survive. In his first year as an FFA Officer during his 9th grade year, Blake was awarded the title of Parliamentarian. Blake has attended several different CDE’s, Career Development Events, throughout his time in the FFA. Last year, Blake competed in the Turf & Lawn CDE, as well as Nursery Landscape.

Blake went with the rest of his officer team to Legislative Day, and also attended the State Convention this past summer. Blake is currently a sophomore, and was awarded the position of Treasurer on this year’s Officer Team. Blake’s SAE for this year is focused on Crop Production, and selling his grown crops at local farmer’s markets. Blake is the chairman of the FFA Movie Night Committee and is currently working with his committee members to plan this event for his Officer Team and the rest of our FFA members. Blake plans to attend several different CDE’s and FFA events throughout this school year, such as the State Fair and National Convention in October, and compete in the Turf & Lawn Management, Floriculture, and Horticulture CDE’s in the spring. Blake also plans to once again attend the State Convention next summer.

Your featured FFA Officer this week is Vice President, Anson Allen. Anson is the longest serving FFA member on this year’s Officer Team. Since his 9th grade year, Anson has been involved in FFA and our Chapter activities. As a freshman, Anson participated in a couple of CDE’s, or Career Development Events, with those events being Tool ID, and Poultry Judging. Each year of Anson’s time in the FFA, he has maintained and kept good records on his SAE.

His 9th grade year, Anson’s SAE was focused on poultry and the management of chickens. Going into his 10th grade year, Anson knew that he wanted to become an FFA Officer, and after discussing his interests with Chapter Advisors, Anson was awarded the title of Chaplain on the 21-22 Officer Team. Anson participated in the Ag Mechanics CDE at Clemson University in the spring of 2021. During his sophomore year, Anson contributed to his SAE through cow & goat management. In the summer of 2022 after completing his sophomore year of high school, Anson attended the 2022 FFA State Convention along with his fellow officers and FFA members. Anson is now in 11th grade and has been awarded with the title of Vice President on the FFA Officer Team for the 22-23 school year.

This year, Anson’s SAE is again focused on poultry and chicken management. Anson intends on going to the National Convention and State Fair in October, and competing once again in the Ag Mechanics CDE this spring.

On Tuesday, Aug. 30, the FFA Chapter Advisors, Mrs. Posipanko and Mr. Reynolds, officially named the Chapter Officer Team for the 2022-2023 school year. Representing Buford High School and the FFA Chapter, the Officer Team for this school year is: Tyler Tilson, President; Anson Allen, Vice President; Fernanda Pacheco Loaeza: Secretary; Blake Gilmore, Treasurer; Morgan Watford, Reporter; Jakob Catoe, Sentinel; Raegan Helms, Historian; and Kasey Catoe, Chaplain. Congratulations to this group of FFA Officers for being selected to represent Buford High School and the FFA Chapter this school year! The Officer Team has already begun planning lots of exciting activities for our FFA program. Some of these activities include: Down on the farm day, a picnic at the school, movie night, fishing day, a tailgate, a cornhole competition, and a Christmas parade. More details on these events will be given in the near future. Another great year for the Buford High School FFA has just begun!

Buford Agriculture