MoCo FFA Attends Annual COLT Training

Courtesy of Montgomery County Future Farmers of America

Each year a group of students are tasked with the opportunity to serve their school, community, and their local FFA chapter by leading them as a chapter officer. These students were announced as Montgomery County Middle and High School Chapter FFA Officers in May, and have recently traveled to Blue Ridge, GA, from July 18-20, 2024, to complete their Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT).

The Montgomery County Middle School FFA Officer Team includes Macey Bradley, Brody Fountain, Juanamaria Cruz, Carson Scott, Landen Colson, Joshua Hong, Ayla Hardeman, and Shaan Momin (not pictured). The Montgomery County High School FFA Officer Team consists of Hannah Williamson, Evan Hardeman, Nora Cartwright, Hartley Williamson, Kadan Williamson, and Penny Rodriguez-Vazquez (not pictured).

These officers kicked off their training with a tour of Mercier Orchards located in Blue Ridge, GA. The tour was led by Ashley Hoppers and David Lillard, two longtime caretakers and employees of the orchards. The students were able to learn about the booming apple industry in North Georgia by visiting the orchards, apple sorting and processing facilities, as well as their onsite farm market open to the public year round. The students asked several questions and learned that it takes all kinds of people from all different backgrounds and areas of knowledge to run their operation smoothly.

From there, the students then spent their time engaging in team building activities to strengthen their communication skills, emphasize the importance of trust on a team, and ensure that they know how to work together to accomplish common goals. The officers then got to work planning what the 2024-2025 school year would look like for the Montgomery County Middle and High School FFA chapters.

Through thoughtful discussions and hours spent sharing ideas and creating goals, these officers have planned a year filled with activities and events that align with the National FFA Organization’s Program of Activities that include Strengthening Agriculture, Building Communities, and Growing Leaders. The officers are looking forward to sharing with all of you a year filled with chapter FFA meetings for students, community service activities, agricultural advocacy and literacy events, competing in Career and Leadership Development Events, helping students achieve success in their Supervised Agricultural Experiences, and fundraisers to help ensure we can provide opportunities to our members at a

low cost.