Special guests in attendance at the Jan. 15 meeting of the Board of Commissioners were members of Gordon County School’s FFA teams.

These students were acknowledged by the board for outstanding achievement at the National FFA convention in Indianapolis, Ind. Last year. From Sonoraville High School, Agriscience teacher Sara Clark introduced students to the board along with their national achievements. Then freshman Lori and Kevin Edwards placed first in the nation in animal systems with their experiment testing estrus in cows. Also, then Junior, Ben Gibson was one of 26 students selected in the state of Georgia as a national delegate.

“What they do with Agri science experiments is they combine their science, their math, English and agriculture together and make it into a workable experiment and it applies to the cattle industry even in our community,” said Clark. “They are talking to cattlemen across the state Georgia in their travels about their experiments and what their results were. It’s not just something we created in a test tube, it’s something that they can use everyday.”

Ben Gibson explained his experience has inspired him to pursue a state officer position again next year with his work as a national delegate.

“We broke up into groups and we were given the assignment to write amendments to the national and state constitution,” explained Gibson to the board. “We learned parliamentary procedure through it. It has inspired me to run for a state officer position this upcoming year.”

Gordon Central Principal Scott McClannahan represented the three students who placed at the national level.

“Unfortunately our party has been traveling and they haven’t made it back yet so I will speak on their behalf,” said McClannahan to the board. “We had three students that received national recognition… we are proud of all three of those students.”

Former Gordon Central Senior Holly Smith placed fifth in the hog judging and in the top 20 overall. Current Senior Timothy Hubbard was selected to serve as a state delegate to the national convention next year and Gibson Priest was named national champion in livestock judging.