Myrtle Beach Students Dive Into Agriculture at Leadership Forum
On a beautiful Friday, September 20, about 210 enthusiastic Future Farmers of America (FFA) students from seven local high schools gathered for an exciting day of learning and fun at Southern Palmetto Farms, just a stone’s throw from Aynor. The backdrop of this thriving agritourism farm set the perfect stage for the Horry County Agricultural Leadership Forum, where these young minds explored the past, present, and future of agriculture.
A Day Full of Learning and Fun
The students, each representing their respective schools, rotated through seven interactive educational stations. From meeting state-level FFA leaders to getting up close with impressive farming equipment like a combine and a cotton picker, it was a day packed with hands-on experiences. The kids even got to take a delightful hay ride around the farm!
The Farm Bureau was also in on the action, bringing a cool combine simulator for the kids to try out. They had fun answering ag-related quiz questions to win prizes – can you remember who invented the cotton gin or how many types of peaches there are in South Carolina? It seems our young farmers have a pretty good grip on that knowledge, much to the delight of Faith Truesdale, the Pee Dee District Director for the Farm Bureau! “They’re doing pretty good,” she remarked after quizzing the students.
Learning About Agricultural Safety
One of the key highlights of the event was an educational seminar focused on agricultural safety, courtesy of the Clemson University Extension Service. It’s crucial for our young farmers to know how to stay safe while they dive into this important field!
Exploring Various Career Paths
The event wasn’t just about learning the tricks of the trade; it was also a fabulous opportunity for students to explore their future options. Exhibitors, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service and the NASCAR Race Lab, showcased various career paths within agriculture. Students learned that they could pursue exciting jobs beyond traditional farming, such as in agribusiness, agrimarketing, and even landscape design!
As Lee Mayfield, an ag teacher at Green Sea Floyds High School, mentioned, while starting as a young farmer today can be tough without inherited land or equipment, there are plenty of other career options out there. He stated, “There’s still a lot of traditional agriculture in Horry County,” and emphasized the importance of exposing students to opportunities in leadership and STEM education.
Students Looking to the Future
Students like Lily Mishoe, an 11th grader and FFA officer from Loris High School, echoed the sentiment that there is truly something for everyone in this field. Ninth grader Anasley Ward expressed her passion for wildlife and focus on the environmental side of agriculture, showcasing the diversity of interests among her peers.
Join the Fun at Southern Palmetto Farms!
Let’s not forget about the exciting agritourism offerings at Southern Palmetto Farms! This fall, they are all set to host a pumpkin patch, a six-acre corn maze, a mini cotton maze, and more each weekend in October. It sounds like the perfect family outing to enjoy the beautiful autumn season!
It’s clear that Horry County’s agricultural future is in good hands with these bright young students gearing up to become tomorrow’s leaders in agriculture.
