House Resolution 32

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE 2006 PINE GROVE HIGH SCHOOL FUTURE FARMERS OF AMERICA (FFA) TEAMS ON WINNING THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

WHEREAS, Pine Grove Future Farmers of America (FFA) students had an exceptional year in 2006 by winning 12 state championships after taking part in federation, district and state FFA contests; and

WHEREAS, Pine Grove High School, home to an outstanding chapter of the FFA, was well represented by 87 members divided into 30 teams at the 2006 State Contest, where 23 of the 30 competing teams faired exceptionally well, placing in the top three at the state level, with two teams garnering third place and nine teams finishing as state runners-up and bringing great honor to their school; and

WHEREAS, the Junior Poultry Evaluation Team comprised of Laken Smith, Samantha Potts, Mallory Hurt and Megan Heatherly exhibited their ability to judge four categories and completed a written exam to take the State Championship; and

WHEREAS, the Junior Horse Evaluation Team comprised of Kayla Chapman, Katelan White, B.J. Alley and Jimmy Jarvis completed a written exam and judged five classes during the competition to clinch the State Championship; and

WHEREAS, the Senior Poultry Judging Team comprised of Megan Jones, Christopher Pruitt, Janet Self and Daniel Paganelli exhibited their ability to judge four categories and completed a written exam to take the State Championship; and

WHEREAS, the Senior Horse Evaluation Team comprised of Cameron Jumper, Wesley Mauney, Anna Palmer, and Heather Loveless judged five classes, completed a written exam and gave two sets of reasons to take the State Championship; and

WHEREAS, the Senior Opening and Closing Ceremonies Team comprised of Anna Palmer, Megan Jones, April Lovell, Janet Self, Emily Bates, Lindsay Whitaker and Ben Adams made the best presentation of the FFA opening and closing ceremonies among eight teams represented to take the State Championship; and

WHEREAS, the Senior Parliamentary Procedure Team comprised of April Lovell, Haley Hurt, Megan Jones, April Stroupe, Holley Hurt, Lindsay Whitaker and Ben Adams effectively managed a business meeting with presentation of motions and discussions to take the State Championship; and

WHEREAS, the Senior Agriculture Issues Team comprised of April Stroupe, Holley Hurt, Emily Bates, Audrey Roberson and Ben Adams completed research and a scrapbook of activities before presenting a forum, completing the exercise with flying colors and captured the State Championship; and

WHEREAS, the Junior Dairy Foods Team comprised of Deidra Tyler, Ashley Boykin, Amelia Cissom and Blake Smith completed the same categories as the senior team to take the State Championship, their first time out; and

WHEREAS, the Junior Tool ID Team comprised of Shana Holliday, Kisha Moore, Christopher Ralph and Miles Finely earned the right to compete at the state level by qualifying through the federation and district contests and in state competition posting perfect scores throughout the event to secure the State Championship; and

WHEREAS, the Junior Opening and Closing Ceremonies Team comprised of Jeremy Mauney, Mallory Hurt, Christopher Ralph, Gage Pannell, Bethany Adams, Michael Winker and Blake Smith made the best presentation of the FFA opening and closing ceremonies among six teams represented to take the State Championship; and

WHEREAS, the Junior Parliamentary Procedure Team comprised of Mallory Hurt, Blake Smith, Bethany Adams, Gage Pannell, Amelia Cissom and Christopher Ralph completed a written exam and performed a skit demonstrating their abilities in parliamentary procedure in effectively conducting a business meeting to take the State Championship; and

WHEREAS, the Senior Agriculture Communications Team comprised of Lindsay Whitaker, Bridgett Thomas, Niki Yates, Ben Adams and Janet Self completed a written proposal, made a presentation to a group of judges in a mock sales meeting and also completed a written exam and five individual practicums to take the State Championship and advance to the national level; and

WHEREAS, in addition to Pine Grove FFA Junior Teams receiving the outstanding Junior Chapter award based on the activities and member involvement throughout the school year, individual honors were bestowed upon Jeremy Mauney, who was named recipient of the North District Junior Star Farmer Award, based upon his accumulated hours of work and dollars earned over the past three years; and

WHEREAS, state runners-up titles went to the teams on Farm Business Management, Junior Floriculture, Junior Nursery Landscape, Tractor Operation, Job Interview, Senior Nursery Landscape, Senior Floriculture and Senior Dairy Foods Evaluation and a third place finish by the Junior Livestock Judging Team; and

WHEREAS, the Pine Grove High School FFA Team has been superbly coached and inspired by faculty advisor, John-Grady Taylor; and

WHEREAS, a winning and cooperative spirit and a high degree of skill and knowledge have been developed by the Pine Grove FFA Team, and their activities and attitude reflect great credit upon the individual members and their advisor and bring much honor to Pine Grove High School; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend excellence, especially when evidenced by the youth of our state, who are its future:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Pine Grove High School FFA Team and their advisor, John-Grady Taylor, for their outstanding accomplishments in 2006, for winning twelve Future Farmers of America State Championships and for displaying tireless devotion to their academic endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Pine Grove High School, Advisor John-Grady Taylor and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.