Last week’s FFA awards banquet at North Surry High School was highlighted by the appointment of the new officers and the presentation of the DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award for the second year.

Chase Chandler, a senior at the school, is a recipient of the 2010 DEKALB Agricultural Accomplishment Award, a national award which recognizes a student for excellence in academics, leadership and agricultural work experience. Chandler has served as an officer in the North Surry chapter, participated on the showmanship team and in dairy judging and has taken advanced studies courses at the high school.

“It feels good after everything I’ve had to do to get there,” he said of receiving the award. “FFA helped me get through school and kept me doing good in school.”

Chandler will attend Virginia Tech this fall and hopes to pursue a degree in animal science, something he said he has always wanted to do.

The North Surry FFA officers for the 2010-11 year also were named and installed. John Holt is the new president, replacing Colby Haynes. Brady Payne and Taylor Coalson were both named vice president, replacing Robby Shelton. Kayla Sechrist will continue her duties as secretary. Dillon Hawks is the treasurer, replacing Holt. Austin Ester is the new chaplain, replacing Chandler. Alex Nichols is the new reporter, replacing Shane Gammons. Samantha Shelton is the new historian, replacing Payne. Mandy Brim was named the new sentinel, replacing Coalson.

Members also received a number of other recognitions. Members who have completed the first level of the FFA received the Greenhand Award while those who completed at least two years of agriculture education received the Chapter Degree Award. Students also received Proficiency Awards for participating in activities outside the classroom in which they learned a skill.

Students who participated in the regional FFA Rally received Career Development Awards in areas including the talent show, livestock judging, extemporaneous speaking, dairy judging and showmanship.

Three students received the Star Farmer Award from the Farm Bureau of Surry County. These awards recognize two seniors and one junior each year who have taken the greatest number of agriculture classes and have the highest grade point average and are working on a Supervised Agricultural Experience project. This year’s winners are Robby Shelton, Chase Chandler and John Holt.

Contact Morgan Wall at mwall@mtairynews.com or 719-1929.