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Thorsby High School FFA Coordinator Brian Lucas speaks to the attendees of the 2022 Thorsby FFA Banquet with the officer team onstage. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

All of the Thorsby High School FFA students that participated on a team during the 2021-22 school year were recognized on stage at the banquet. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Chanan Stephens won the 2022 Thorsby High School FFA member of the year award. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Brian Lucas recognizes senior Michael Killingsworth for his contributions to the Thorsby High School FFA program. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Some of the district and state competition pennants won by Thorsby High School FFA teams during the 2021-22 school year. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Some of the district and state competition pennants won by Thorsby High School FFA teams during the 2021-22 school year. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Tori Mims presenting the FFA members of the month and member of the year awards. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

Plaques commemorating the 2021 Thorsby High School FFA national teams were on display at the banquet. (CAREY REEDER | ADVERTISER)

By Carey Reeder | Staff Writer

The Thorsby High School FFA program held their annual banquet at Jemison City Hall on May 19 to celebrate the year that was.

FFA members, family and friends filled the hall to listen to Thorsby FFA Coordinator Brian Lucas recap a busy calendar year for the program.

Lucas recognized the 2021 national teams for Thorsby that competed in the national FFA competitions. The 2021 veterinary science, nursery landscape meat evaluation and dairy teams all won the 2021 state competitions to advance to nationals. The poultry team placed second at 2021 state competition.

Veterinary science placed 13th, nursery landscape placed 16th, meat evaluation placed 15th and dairy 33rd at the national competitions. All of the members in attendance were given a belt buckle to commemorate the achievement.

“It feels so good to recognize these kids, because I know how hard they work,” Lucas said. “It is a great thing because there are so many, not just one or two.”

The 2022 competition teams were recognized next. The dairy team placed second at the state competition and the land evaluation team won the state competition to move on to nationals.

The land evaluation team competed in Oklahoma from May 3-5 and placed 16th out of 103 teams, four points from the top 10.

“It speaks a lot to the parents for raising them and getting them to that point,” Lucas said. “It is my job to develop them from there. I’m just so proud of them.”

Lucas recognized the five teams who represented Thorsby at the 2022 district competitions and moved on to the state competitions later this year. The meats evaluation, poultry, veterinary science and forestry team all won the district competition. This is the first year Thorsby has fielded a forestry team. The small engines team placed third in the district competition.

“When you get 35-40 different personalities in a room, and we are all working toward a common goal just on different teams,” Lucas said. “It gets really interesting.”

Lucas recognized senior Michael Killingsworth for his service to the FFA program.

Tori Mims, member of the officer team, presented the FFA members of the month with certificates. Mims also announced the Thorsby FFA member of the year which was senior Chanan Stephens. Stephens participated in FFA throughout high school and plans to study welding at Shelton State Community College after high school.

“It is pretty big for me, I have been working towards this for over two years,” Stephens said. “I love the FFA, and I’m willing to pour my heart and soul out for them.”

Lucas described the school year for the FFA program as “challenging, interesting and fun.”

“It has been a great opportunity to work with these students,” Lucas said. “They make my job easier.”

Mims closed the banquet by presenting a video the officers made for Lucas thanking him for his time throughout the school year.

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