KNOXVILLE, TN— During the annual East Tennessee FFA awards banquet on April 24, the 2017-2018 Tennessee FFA Eastern Region Officer Team was elected. The six individuals elected to serve are President, Nathan Penrod, Meigs; Vice President, Matthew Stuckey, Walker Valley; Secretary, Celina Menard, South Greene; Treasurer, Clayton Huff, Daniel Boone; Reporter, Chloe Ford, David Crockett; Sentinel, Breanna Brouhard, Pigeon Forge.
This year, 20 candidates vied for the coveted six positions. The 20 applicants are required to be from different chapters and can be a sophomore, junior or senior in high school. The candidates were scored on five parts: application, letter writing, knowledge exam, and two interviews. The judging panel consisted of 6 members made up of current FFA members, former FFA members, and business & industry representatives.
The newly elected regional officer team is responsible for the East Tennessee Greenhand Conference held in the fall. They will develop and execute workshops designed to be engaging and informative about the numerous ways to be involved in FFA and the agriculture industry. Regional Officers also play a major role in the regional banquet and working regional contests. They are kicking off their year by having a cookout with former regional officers and FFA members during Tennessee Farm Bureau’s FFA Night at University of Tennessee, Knoxville baseball game on May 9.
FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. Nationally, there are 649,355 FFA members, aged 12-21. The Tennessee FFA Association is comprised of 14,084 members from 214 high school chapters, 7 middle school chapters, and 8 collegiate chapters across the state of Tennessee.
(Photo caption: Newly elected Eastern Region Officers pose for a team photo. Left to Right: Secretary, Celina Menard, South Greene; Sentinel, Breanna Brouhard, Pigeon Forge; Treasurer, Clayton Huff, Daniel Boone; Vice President, Matthew Stuckey, Walker Valley; President, Nathan Penrod, Meigs; Reporter, Chloe Ford, David Crockett.)