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Midland Valley FFA Members Celebrate National FFA Week

Midland Valley FFA Members spent the week of February 23-27, 2009 celebrating National FFA Week. The students participated in various teambuilding and leadership activities all week. The group visited the South Carolina Capitol buuilding on Wednesday February 23, 2009 and hosted a luncheon on Friday February 27, 2009.

On March 07, 2009 six Midland Valley FFA Association members (pictured left to right: Jessica, Devon, Nick, Kenny, Patrick, and Aaron) attended the 5th Annual Silver Bluff Audubon Society Trail Ride in Jackson South Carolina. The groups main responsibility again this year was the preparation of lunch for all riders and volunteers. The group spent the morning touring the Audibon Society grounds before working to prepare lunch for nearly 100 people in attendance. The group was also able to take a few minutes after lunch to tour one of the Revoluntionary War Era Archialogical sites on the property of the Audubon Society.

The Midland Valley High School FFA Chapter took top honors in the State FFA Chapter Recognition Program announced during the recent state conference of the SC FFA Association at Clemson University.

In addition to being selected one of nine Gold Emblem Chapter Award recipients from throughout South Carolina, the group was also named state champions in the Student Development Category of Outstanding Chapters and presented the Governor’s Citation of Accomplishment by Larry Rogers, an official with the USDA Farm Service Agency who sponsors the state and national FFA Chapter Recognition Program.

Wesley Harris, executive director of the SC Rural

Rehabilitation Development Corporation, presented the chapter a check for $1000 to defray expenses for representatives to attend the National FFA Convention later this year where the top National FFA Chapter Awards will be announced.

The citation and check were received by Midland Valley FFA Advisor Jeremy Brooks and chapter officer Lauren Overstreet. A special program will be held at the high school in the fall to recognize the FFA members and advisor for bringing state and national recognition to the school, community and Aiken County.

Midland Valley FFA Members Attend South Carolina

Legislative Appreciation Day

In celebration of National FFA Week 2009, seven Midland Valley FFA Association Members along with their advisor, Mr. Brooks traveled to Columbia S.C. to participate in the states annual Legislative Appreciation Day. The group toured the state house grounds both inside and outside as well as participated in a ceremony with South Carolina governor Mark Sanford and several other state polititians. The group concluded the day with a stop for lunch at California Dreaming.

Midland Valley FFA Members Attend South Carolina

Plant Presentation Day

In appreciation of our South Carolina State Legislators the Midland Valley FFA Association participated in the South Carolina State House Plant Presentation. The students traveled to the State House grounds on Wednesday April 01, 2009 along with several other FFA chapters from across the state to deliver flowers and bedding plants that had been grown in our agriculture greenhouses throughout the state. The group toured the state house grounds both inside and outside as well as participated in a ceremony with South Carolina governor Mark Sanford and several other state polititians. The group concluded the day with a stop at the South Carolina State Museum.

Midland Valley FFA Tool Identification Team

Finish Fifth in State Competition

The Midland Valley FFA Association Tool Identification Team made up of four first year FFA Members finished ranked number five in the State of South Carolina during their competition held Saturday April 18, 2009 at Keenan High School. The team made up of Aaron Floyd, Sara Rains, Devon Puckett, and Laurna Jackson finished ranked number two in region competition to qualify for the state event. The group was responsible for knowing the proper name and use of over 150 tools used in agriculture.

The Midland Valley High FFA Archery team has taken the largest youth archery competition in South Carolina, the National Archery in the Schools Program State Championship by storm, and in only the teams second year of existence has already set its sight on the nation. The Mustangs won the state title in Columbia on March 26, and secured a spot to compete for a national title in Louisville, Kentucky in May.

“The archery program has exploded,” said archery coach Jeremy Brooks. “It has been a blast, and I think it really has been a positive influence on the students, school and Midland Valley community. We have had great support throughout the community for the archery team. It has really been a fun experience.”

“We start our archery season in January when the students return from Christmas break and practice several times a week as tournaments near,” Brooks said.

A team has twenty-four members, and a minimum of five have to be "opposite" sex. The top 12 scores are taken, and a minimum of four have to be taken from the five opposite sex team members. Each shooter gets 30 shots, with a bull’s-eye counting for 10. Points decrease as the arrow hits further away from the bull’s-eye. A perfect score for an individual would be 300.

At the state tournament, the Mustang Archers scored a total of over 3100 points (averaging over 255 pts. per score taken) beating four time defending state champion Mid-Carolina High School. Returning Midland Valley archer Andrew Atkinson successfully defended his South Carolina archery record (281 pts.) which he set during last years state tournament. Rookie Midland Valley archer Devon Puckett finished second place (267 pts.) overall individual in the girls division and returning Midland Valley archer Laurna Jackson finished third place (264 pts.) overall individual in the girls division.

Archery is not a SCHSL event, but is sponsored by the National Archery in the School program. Midland Valley therefore competes against schools of every size, both private and public. The competitions began in 2002 in Kentucky, and next year will have participation in all 48 continental states.

The National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) is a joint venture between the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the State Department of Education and several archery equipment manufacturers and organizations. The program promotes student education, physical education and participation in the life long sport of Archery. The program’s focus is to provide International Style Target Archery training to students in grades 4 – 12.