MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2000 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Little

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE PINE GROVE HIGH SCHOOL FFA SENIOR LIVESTOCK JUDGING TEAM FOR WINNING THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, of seven teams from the Future Farmers of America Clubs from Pine Grove High School which competed in the state contest in Starkville, Mississippi, the Senior Livestock Judging team gained the state championship; and

WHEREAS, the Pine Grove Livestock Judging team of Michael Owen, Crystal Palmer, Justin Mauney, Cole Childs and Justin Hodges, and advisor, John-Grady Taylor, contributed their skills in the following diverse areas: breeding beef cattle evaluation, market beef cattle evaluation, slaughter cattle grading, breeding swine evaluation, market swine evaluation, swine grading, breeding sheep evaluation, market sheep evaluation and oral reasoning; and

WHEREAS, the state champion team had a composite score of 1301 out of a possible 1650, along with posting the top three individual scores in the state; Mauney claimed overall high individual in the state with a score of 454 out of 550, Hodges had 449, and Palmer had 438; and

WHEREAS, four of the other six teams who competed gained state runner-up scores; the current state runner-up teams from Pine Grove are: Junior Livestock Judging, Junior Horse Judging, Senior Horse Judging, and Senior Dairy Judging; the Senior Poultry and Agriculture Mechanics teams both came away with finishes in the top five in Mississippi with fourth place finishes; and

WHEREAS, the state champion Pine Grove Senior Livestock Judging team will compete in the nationals in November in Louisville, Kentucky; only one team from each of the 50 states gain a spot in the nationals; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize this fine group of students who have brought honor to their school, their community and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Pine Grove High School Future Farmers of America Club Senior Livestock Judging team for winning the state championship and wish them continued success as they represent Mississippi in the nationals at Louisville, Kentucky, in November.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to faculty advisor John-Grady Taylor on behalf of the team, the Principal of Pine Grove, and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.