HOPE – A former president of the Hope High School Future Farmers of America chapter encouraged new officers, members and family and friends of the FFA program to keep leadership, growth and service at the fore of their lives as students and community members Tuesday as the chapter awarded annual honors.
\r\nMegan Harper, formerly FFA chapter President Megan Antley, now of Benton, keynoted the annual Hope FFA Banquet at the Cowboy Church with the idea that, “To Lead is To Serve.”\r\n
\r\nA native of Fulton, Harper said her FFA experience helped to bring perspective to her outlook on life.\r\n
\r\n“I was a farm girl,” she said. “My dad was a hog man; he did all of the greasy pigs at the FFA rodeo.”\r\n
\r\nHarper said it was difficult for her to understand her family’s life until she joined FFA.\r\n
\r\n“I truly believe that some of the things I learned in FFA helped me become what I am today,” she said.\r\n
\r\nA 2006 graduate of Hope High School, Harper took a bachelor’s degree in biology at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia in 2010 before studying nursing through Baptist Health Systems in Little Rock, where she obtained licensure as a Registered Nurse in 2013. She is currently the Assistant Director of Nursing for the Arkansas Otolaryngology Surgery Center in Little Rock.\r\n
\r\nHarper said she learned leadership, not only through becoming an FFA officer, but through FFA projects that required her to learn how to get things done.\r\n
\r\n“Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes,” she said.\r\n
\r\nHer “growth” began as the result of recognizing how she could accomplish goals. That lesson was learned, Harper said, when, as a pre-teen she persisted in asking her father to saddle her horse one day. She said he continually refused to interrupt what needed to be done for the farm to address her problem.\r\n
\r\nUltimately, Harper said she began to realize that she had to take the responsibility to tackle the problem herself; and, she did so.\r\n
\r\n“My dad taught me a hard lesson that day,” she said.\r\n
\r\nLeadership in life, Harper said, is born out in service to others.\r\n
\r\n“And, some people are hard to serve,” she admitted.\r\n
\r\nBut, Harper said spiritual growth is an integral part of learning not only to lead, but to serve.\r\n
\r\nNew officers for the chapter were installed including President Sydney Parish, Vice President Jaci Johnson, Secretary De’Travonta Horton, Treasurer Asia Stockdale, Reporter Davionna Perkins, Sentinel Jazmine Martinez, and Junior Advisor Peyton Parker.\r\n
\r\nDe’Travonta Horton was named Star Chapter Farmer of the Year, while Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Scoby were recognized as Honorary Chapter Farmers for their contributions to the program.\r\n
\r\nProficiency awards were presented to Avion Horton (equine), Jaci Johnson (small animals), Peyton Parker (beef), and Marianna McClenton (swine).\r\n
\r\nCompetition recognition went to Jacob Gunn (milk quality – state), D’Angelo Palmer (farm business management), Davionna Perkins (floriculture), Asia Stockdale (agronomy), and Francisco Navarrette (agriculture mechanics).\r\n
\r\nStar Chapter Greenhand was awarded to Sarah Poole.\r\n
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