LENOIR, NC (January 16, 2019) — At the national Future Farmers of America (FFA) Convention and Expo in Indianapolis this fall, four young men serving as the North Carolina Champion Agronomy Team, proudly represented their state, the Caldwell County School System and South Caldwell High School in competition as winners of the team Silver rating and finishing 19th in the nation.
Back – L to R: Board members Teresa Branch, Duane Knight, Ann Edwards, Tim Hawkins, Chris Bumgarner, Darrell Pennell, and Superintendent Dr. Donald Phipps
The National FFA Agronomy Career Development event recognized individual and team scores.
Ben Kohnle, agricultural education teacher at South Caldwell for 13 years and team sponsor, is teacher, coach and supporter of this winning team.
Congratulations to the outstanding performances of the South Caldwell High Agronomy team members:
Thomas Joplin, 11th grade: Bronze Medalist
Corey Reid, 12th grade: Silver Medalist
Koby Hilton, 12th grade: Silver Medalist
Lawton Looper, 12th grade: Gold Medalist
This is the first year that South Caldwell High School entered an agronomy team into competition, and they won the FFA North Carolina Champion title, USA Silver rating and finished 19th in the nation!