COOKEVILLE, TN—Rebecca Arwood of the Daniel Boone Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter is Tennessee FFA’s 2016 Star in Agriscience. The Star in Agriscience is awarded to the top student who best demonstrates knowledge and skill in agriscience research and experimentation. Her Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) is in Agriscience Research, Animal Systems. The Star in Agriscience is sponsored by the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, Tennessee Farm Bureau Health Plans, and Farm Bureau Insurance of Tennessee.
Rebecca is part owner in Black Sheep Farm. Their flock consists of both Natural Color and Tunis breeds which she shows in exhibits across the state. Her research has consisted of a state winning Agriscience fair project titled, “Waiting on Ewe,” where she tested which feed caused the most weight gain for her show lambs. Her second state title in the Agriscience Fair, titled “Waiting on Ewe Part II,” tested the best feed supplements to add to her sheep’s diet.
Both Agriscience Fair projects were ranked among the top twenty at the national level.
Rebecca is the daughter of David and Deana Arwood of Johnson City. Rebecca plans on attending East Tennessee State University in the fall majoring in biology with the hopes of conducting research to benefit the agriculture industry.
For her achievement, Rebecca was honored last week during the Second Annual Tennessee FFA Star Tour presented by Farm Credit Mid-America. The trip was centered on Tennessee agriculture; students got a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit agribusinesses, meet key industry leaders and showcase their superior projects.
The tour began in Doyle at Camp Clements: Tennessee FFA Leadership Training Camp where Farm Credit Mid-America presented each of the Stars with $1,000 scholarships. The tour included visits to First Farmers and Merchants Bank in Columbia, the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, and Hatcher Family Dairy in College Grove, Batey Farms in Murfreesboro, Warren County FFA, and the farm of Joe Moore, former American Star Farmer in Granville. The Stars also visited Wampler’s Farm Sausage, met with Farm Credit Mid-America in Dandridge, visited the Appalachian Electric Cooperative, and was hosted by the Daniel Boone FFA chapter for dinner in East Tennessee. The tour ended with a day spent at Dollywood.
Rebecca was named the Tennessee FFA Star in Agriscience in March at the Tennessee FFA State Convention in Gatlinburg. Having received her State FFA Degree, Rebecca is now eligible to earn her American FFA Degree and represent Tennessee in the competition to become the American Star in Agriscience. Likewise, Tennessee will have a Star Farmer, Star in Agribusiness and Star in Agricultural Placement candidate.
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 629,367 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: Rebecca Arwood, Tennessee Future Farmers of America Star in Agriscience, pictured just before the Star Tour Kick Off at FFA Camp Clements in Doyle.)