Miller Grove FFA President, Rebecca George, served as the Toastmaster of the historic 75th Miller Grove
FFA Banquet, Monday Night.
Miller Grove FFA Hosts Historic
75th Anniversary Banquet
by: Bobby McDonald
"I want to commend the Miller Grove Community on 75 years of history and of realizing the importance of agriculture for 3/4ths of a century," expressed guest speaker, Amanda Meadows, a State FFA Officer from Sims, Texas. "Both my father and grandfather have been vocational agriculture teachers, and I've never seen anything like this, traveling throughout the state! You're to be commended for providing such a rich, rich heritage and a program like this for the youth of your community!"
Meadows summed up the feelings of over 250 guests and the parents of members that attended Tuesday night's gala Miller Grove FFA Banquet, that marked the 75 Anniversary of the chapter. Formed in 1934, under the direction of vocational agriculture teacher, Charlie Price, who shared his duties with coaching and drew a salary of $100.00 a month, the chapter didn't have the required 20 students to hire a full-time agriculture teacher. Then, in 1939, D.L. Hatcher, a trained vocational agriculture teacher, shared duties with neighboring Campbell, where he taught one-half day at each school. Later, the number of students increased and the chapter had it's own vocational agriculture teacher. Teacher's serving the chapter have included: Price, Hatcher, John Harland, Glen Ferguson, Richard Lee, Roy Provence, Ernest Bailey, David Welch, Jimmy Bassham, Ernie Weaver, Doyle McKenzie, Jimmy Day, Richard Watson, Tara Spencer, and Lindsey Potts.
Texas State FFA President, Amanda Meadows, of Sims, Texas, was the guest speaker at Monday night's
historic Miller Grove FFA Banquet.
"It really hasn't been 75 years since Richard Watson came to Miller Grove!" quipped Toastmaster, Rebecca George. "It was only in 1984 that he began as a substitute ag teacher and undoubtedly they've never found a permanent one, because he just keeps showing up at school every day!"
Richard Watson, Vocational Agriculture Teacher at Miller Grove since 1984, shared some humorous stories
with the audience, about his current and past FFA students.
Watson, who had previously taught at Sulphur Springs High School had moved to the community and was in the dairy business, when he first assumed duties at the vocational agriculture teacher. Today, he is joined by his daughter, Lindsey Potts, making them only the second father-daughter teaching team in the state of Texas. The chapter boasts over 90 members and members brought back to Miller Grove over $58,000.00 in prize money from the NETLA County Show. Additionally, the chapter attends District, Area, State, and National Conventions, participates in all levels of judging teams and leadership contests, and has an extensive show program, where animals are exhibited throughout the state.
"It's quite a bit different than some of the material that we 'uncovered' in our history files," expressed George. "In 1946, the chapter only had 23 members and the vocational agriculture instructor was teaching G-I School, as an added duty for those soldiers returning from WWII. The chapter was dehorning and castrating animals for all area farmers and planting, budding, and pruning, fruit trees and cultivating field crops for a major portion of their farming projects, including over 51 acres of cotton grown by students!"
Thomas Renshaw, left, and Cayle Watson, right, Miller Grove FFA Chapter Officers, had parts on the program for
Monday night's Miller Grove FFA Banquet.
Six students from Miller Grove FFA have attained their American Farmer Degree, including Erik Mabe, Vicki Mabe, Clint George, Cherrie George, Roy George, and Shelley Watson. And, sixty-four students have attained the Lone Star Farmer Degree in the history of the chapter. They are: Paul Corbet, Jr., J.C. Bearden, Carroll Wood, Gary Williams, Fred Moseley, Freddy Woods, Delane Malone, Donald Birchfield, Mark Garrett, Erik Mabe, Brian Lennon, Vicki Mabe, Amie Malone, Cathy Weatherly, Clint George, Tim Clem, Ronald Barnes, Cherrie George, Virgie Johnson, STeve McCool, Ricky Taylor, Mike Hasten, Gary Jennings, Shane Watson, Roy George, Randy Taylor, Stacey Bolton, Stacy Ethridge, Cheryl Garmon, Christi Moseley, Shelley Watson, Rolanda Flecker, Jennifer Smith, Jaime Back, Brad McCool, Rodney Millard, David Moseley, Ragon White, Amber Blanton, April Lennon, Tara Russell, Ann Rabun, Lindsey Watson, Sara Garmon, Mary Russell, Mitzie Pennington, Angela Poteet, Nicole Roberts, Dustee Daugherty, Ryan Evans, Josh George, Hilery Harris, Nikki Lytle, Clay Smith, Corey Ainsworth, Natalie Bailey, Ryan Claxton, Amanda Sims, Rebecca George, Diane Sparks, Chance Lee, Thomas Renshaw, Chase Taylor, and Kelli Claxton.
The Chapter's history files reflect that an incomplete list of those serving as president of the Miller Grove FFA include: Edwin Watts, Truman Dicken, Octave Woods, Leeman Stracener, Maurice Pippin, Edwin Garrett, Tommy Clem, Larry Mabe, Henry Garmon, Paul Stewart, Fred Moseley, Jr., Freddy Woods, Tommy Calk, Ernie Weaver, Russ Garmon, Kip Knowles, Michael Woodard, Ricky Stracener, Billy Kelly, Tim Potts, Bretton Jones, Stephen Sparks, Delane Malone, Eric Mabe, Vicki Mabe, Bret Garret, Franklin Johnson, Cherrie George, Shane Watson, Mike Hasten, Roy George, Shelley Watson, Stacey Etheridge, Cheryl Garmon, Heather Clem, Jamie Back, Justin Darrow, Lindsey Watson, Mary Russell, Angela Poteet, Greg Hegseth, Ryan Evans, Christin Daugherty, James Weaver, Callie Smith, Leslie Wagley, Amanda Sims, and Rebecca George.
Vocalist, Carley Bowen, a member of the Mt. Pleasant FFA Chapter, provided entertainment for
Monday night's banquet.
Entertainment for Monday night's banquet was a beautiful selection of songs by Mt. Pleasant FFA Member, Carly Bowen, who did an outstanding job of three sons, including Patsy Cline's "Crazy" and "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
Serving as the 2008-09 Miller Grove FFA Officer Team were: Rebecca George, Thomas Renshaw, Cayle Watson, Mari Del Castillo, Haley Potts, Shaye Lynn Emerick, Jena Burns, Alex Craze, Chance Lee, Kasey Burns, Mareyna Pillard, and Casey Millard.
The 2008-09 Miller Grove FFA Officer Team, who hosted this year's 75h Anniversary Banquet.
Proficiency Award Winners at this year's banquet included: Jeremy Blackstead, Cayle Watson, Macen Howle, Cody Jennings, Alex Craze, Chase Taylor, Kasey Burns, Haley Potts, Shaye Lynn Emerick, Rebecca George, Mareyna Pillar, Mari Del Castillo, Casey Millard, Aaron Baylus, Jacob Haygood, and Phillip Caudle. The Special Awards at Monday night's banquet were presented by former Miller Grove FFA Presidents, Jamie Back Fox (1994) and Cheryl Garmon Stephens (1992), who came back for the event. Also, Vicki Mabe Lee, gave Monday night's Response, both as a parent of one of the officers and as the 1983 Miller Grove FFA President.
These Miller Grove FFA members were cited for their outstanding accomplishments in agricultural
projects with Proficiency Awards.
"This has been loads of work to prepare for the banquet and to research all of the history of our chapter," allowed vocational agriculture teacher, Lindsey Potts. "But, the officer team has done an outstanding job and everyone in the community, former officers, and former members have been so helpful in marking this milestone in our chapter's history!"
The Miller Grove FFA Chapter officers for next year were announced and they presented the closing ceremonies to end Monday night's banquet, with a pledge to do even great things in the community, as they work toward the centennial year of the Miller Grove FFA!
Current Miller Grove FFA Advisors are the father-daughter team of Richard Watson
and Lindsey Potts, only the second such team in the state of Texas.
"I'll probably still be coming to school twenty-five years from now," quipped Richard Watson, as he gave an overview of the banquet! "This ag teaching just gets in your blood and you can't let it go! I love the kids and love all the things I do with them each year, hopefully preparing them for life's challenges. Tonight has been a wonderful time to see former students and those who maybe you have made a difference in their lives, as they entered college, the workforce, and the raising of their own children!"
Richard Watson visits with former Miller Grove FFA Presidents, Justin Darrow, Jamie Back Fox,
and Cheryl Garmon Stephens, following Monday night's historic banquet.
Congratulations!!!
Miller Grove FFA on
75 Years of Service to Hopkins County!!!
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