Murphy – Murphy Middle School’s FFA chapter showed they are among the best in the state once again and are headed to compete in the national competition in October.
The N.C. Future Farmers of America Association announced awards during its weeklong Virtual Celebration.
A highlight was the chapter earning Gold National Chapter Award recognition again. The chapter was the first middle school in the state to receive the award last year, and achieved the feat again this year.
For the award, students had to fill out an application showing in depth how they worked in building communities, strengthening agriculture, and growing leaders. They had to create goals, and reflect on their activities.
Advisor Anne Marie Franklin was proud of the students for not letting the coronavirus stop them from reaching goals.
“They’re resilient …These students still found a way to complete the application,” she said.
“They have what it takes to communicate effectively.”
One member, Olivia Silver, stood out as the first-place winner in the Division 1 Animal Science – Agriscience Research Fair competition. She received a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to create a micro-farming project that studied poultry. Franklin was proud of Silver for continuing with her project during the pandemic.
For both awards, students move on to the national competition, scheduled to take place in Indianapolis in October. Franklin said her students were prepared to present virtually if needed.
The chapter also earned the second-place award for Top Middle School Chapters, a new category that Murphy students lobbied the state association for last year while having to compete against high school chapters.
“The students at Murphy Middle School had worked tirelessly to create something not just for Murphy, but for students all over North Carolina,” Franklin said.
The Murphy Middle FFA has 59 members.
Murphy Middle FFA leads the way
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