DOYLE, TN – The Anderson County Future Farmers of America (FFA) Chapter took home first place honors in the Tennessee FFA State Environmental and Natural Resources competition last month. The competition was held at Camp Clements in Doyle. Fourteen FFA chapters from each of Tennessee’s three regions participated. 

Anderson County FFA of the Anderson County Career and Tech Center was represented by team members: Kaylee Brown, Trevor Jordan, Ivy Massey, and Jacob Wheeler. The chapter’s advisor is Phillip Warfield. Anderson County will represent Tennessee at the National FFA Convention in October and compete against other state winning teams for the national title. 

The purpose of this competition is to acquaint students with the different types of natural resources that are found throughout the state and to foster skill development in each student’s chosen area of study. Environmental and Natural Resources competitors analyzed property for five environmental factors. Those factors were: living organisms, non-living components, food webs, ecological succession, and situation analysis. 

The winner of the Western Region was the Covington FFA Chapter and the Middle Region was won by the Cookeville FFA Chapter, which also placed second overall. 

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 610,240 FFA members, aged 12-21. The Tennessee FFA Association is comprised of more than 13,000 members from 214 high school chapters, seven middle school chapters, and eight collegiate chapters across the state of Tennessee.

Photo caption: Anderson County FFA members are all smiles after winning the state Environmental and Natural Resources competition. (L to R): Phillip Warfield (Advisor), Trevor Jordan, Ivy Massey, Kaylee Brown, and Jacob Wheeler.