One of the nice things about being associated with the Gordon County Young Farmers is being around people who are involved as agricultural leaders in the county. I would like to brag on a few of our folks that are involved in the Young Farmers. Our state convention is coming up in January and I wish to thank members that are applying for awards.

Sam Payne is entered in the Chapter President Award. Sam has been Chapter President for two years. Kevin Smith has been nominated as our candidate for Outstanding Member and local poultry farmers Jason and Kimberly Witt are competing for Outstanding Farm Family.

Gordon County is very fortunate to have two current State Young Farmer Officers from our chap-ter, Carla Kelsoe-Secretary and Keith Holmes-Jr. North Director. We are excited about member involvement and our chapter’s growth.

Leadership is important to the young people in our county as well. Currently there are three Area One FFA Officers from Gordon County. Timothy Hubbard and Drew Thornton are members of Gordon Central FFA and Katie Sutherland is a member of the Sonoraville FFA.

Our youngsters have been very busy lately. Congratulations to Amber Kay from Sonoraville who placed 2nd nationally…Yes, nationally in the botany division of the National FFA Agriscience fair in Indianapolis at the National FFA Convention.

Chase Coots, Chris Ross and Nathan Smith from Sonoraville won 2nd place in the Junior FFA Land Judging Contest and qualified for state.

The following Sonoraville students; Layson West, Amber Clay, Clay Hilgeman and Sara Barfield participated and won 1st place in the Senior Area FFA Nursery Landscape Contest and will compete for the state title.

Not to be outdone, the Sonoraville Junior Nursery Landscape team also placed first in Area. These students are Tanner Holloway, Brian Rapp, Taylor Sills and Hayley Dodd. They will compete for the junior state championship.

Gordon County youth were recently well represented at the Georgia National Fair in Perry and other shows across the state.

Young people showing cattle are: Gordon Central FFA member Lea Crump, Sonoraville Middle FFA member and 4H member McKayla Holmes, Sonoraville FFA members Kayla Edwards and Holly Smith. Gordon County 4H members that showed cattle at Perry and/or other shows included; Kendall Bowman, Callie Craig, Kevin Edwards, Lori Edwards, Anna Holden, Ryan Harcrow and Madison Rae Miller, Taylor Turnquist, Kayla Edwards, Robbie Arnold, Landon Vest, and Lance Vest.

The youth that showed lambs at Perry or other shows from Gordon Central FFA were Timothy Hubbard, Taylor Langford, Drew Thornton, Paula Devane and Lea Crump. Philip McCown repre-sented Ashworth Middle FFA. Gordon County 4H lamb showman included Brycen Potts, Mikalah Potts, Kam Childers Cheyanne Childers, Katie Ennis, Justin Brooks, Ron Clavino, Hannah McCoy, and Claude Stancel.

Participation in Market Goat shows has steadily increased and several of our 4H members are in-volved: Becca Cheeks, Cole and Marie Swims, Brycen Potts, Mikalah Potts, Katie Ennis, Kendal and Lindsey Bowman all showed goats at Perry or other shows this season.

Two sisters from Sonoraville FFA, Taylor and Jessica Sills were very successful at Perry and other shows this fall with their market hog project.

Of course all of these students would agree that they had a tremendous support and help from their teachers, agents and parents.

With all the young people and teenagers currently involved in agriculture, the future of agricul-ture and of the Gordon County Young Farmers looks very bright.