John Hardin FFA receives state recognition

All that glitters is indeed gold for the Future Farmers of America at John Hardin High School.

The FFA chapter at John Hardin received a Gold Emblem rating from the state FFA Association and was named a National FFA Chapter Award Finalist at the recent state convention.

FFA chapters receive points for the activities, contests and other works they participate in, and then are rated based on a point system, said Jeremy Hall, FFA adviser for John Hardin. Chapters must receive at least 450 points for a Gold Emblem rating, and John Hardin’s chapter was one of 50 in the state to do so.

“It takes a lot to get that rating,” Hall said.

This is the seventh year in a row the chapter has received a gold rating.

Hall is more excited to be recognized as a national chapter finalist, marking the second year the John Hardin chapter is up for the award.

The top 15 chapters in the state move on to finalist status. The chapter will learn the results of that decision in about a month, he said.

Hall said it’s important for his students to serve the community and participate in leadership-building activities.

“I’m trying to prepare them for what’s coming next,” he said.

Hall said it’s an honor for the chapter to receive recognition. The John Hardin program is somewhat non-traditional because the vast majority of its students don’t have a farming background, he said. Hall said he recruits members through offering agricultural classes they can relate to and might interest them, such as landscaping and veterinary science.

John Hardin’s chapter also had its first state officer chosen, recent graduate Billy Mitchell. He will serve in his office in the upcoming year.

Kelly Cantrall can be reached at (270) 505-1747 or kcantrall@thenewsenterprise.com.