Midland Valley FFA members enjoy visit from national president

The Midland Valley High FFA chapter members appeared somewhat wary as the national FFA President Levy Randolph prepared to speak during a visit to the school Tuesday.

After all, he comes all the way from California, where he's a student at Fresno State University. But it didn't take Randolph long to win the students over.

He described his childhood, how he spent 10 years in Japan, where his dad was in the midst of a 24-year U.S. Navy career. He played all kinds of sports in school but also joined an all-male dance team.

In turn, Randolph, 19, drew laughs when he described seeing his first possum on a South Carolina road. The Midland Valley students were amused when he acknowledged that he had never been hunting and wasn't sure about counting points on a deer.

"It's really been interesting to meet Levy and learn about his experiences as the national president," said Midland Valley chapter President Patrick Halcomb. He and other officers enjoyed the opportunity to show Randolph the greenhouse, the new aquaculture program and other components of the award-winning agriculture education program taught by Jeremy Brooks.

The FFA chapter won a Gold Star as one of the state's top programs earlier this year, and its adult education class is the nation's best.

"It's a first for us to get a national president here and that's great," Brooks said. "We've been observing National FFA Week with leadership and team-building activities. We also fixed a Lowcountry Boil for Levy, and that's new for him. He's loving that."

Randolph brought a message to the students, one of being positive and optimistic as a way of life. He related an imaginary sand bucket and how it can be used in one's life.

"Each of us has a bucket," he said. "Instead of filling it with sand, we fill it with words, actions and our mentalities. How we use it can transform lives."

Students from Midland Valley and other Aiken County FFA chapters will attend a State Legislature Appreciation Day in Columbia today. Brooks will receive a 2010 Toyota Tundra as part of a recent award from the National Association of Agricultural Educators.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.