Final year-end numbers — more than $102,000 in scholarships, $553,000 in contest winnings earned

The 2023-2024 school year was a busy one, especially for Sulphur Springs FFA members and advisors. Sulphur Springs FFA members attended at least seven major shows throughout the school year, traveling to Tyler, Dallas, Fort Worth and San Antonio, as well as participating in local shows here in Hopkins County. Members brought home many top honors, as well as scholarships and awards.

Scholarships

Fifteen seniors earned a total of $102,050 in scholarships. These included: Rylie Carroll won a total of $39,000 in scholarships from the State Fair of Texas, Heart o’ Texas Fair; Legacy Ag Credit; Texas A&M University; Texas Farm Bureau District; and Texas A&M University. Carroll also earned a $20,000 Texas 4-H Foundation Baccalaureate Scholarship (amount not included in total).

Coen Bell earned a total of $10,000 with scholarships from the North East Texas Livestock Association show and the Beef Heifer Superintendent’s Challenge Scholarship at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo.

Catherine Starzyk earned a total of $10,000 with scholarships from the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo Texas Brigades; Hopkins County Junior Commercial Heifer Show; and Sterling and Eva Beckham Memorial Scholarship.

Jayden Arledge earned a total of $8,500 with the Big Tex Scholarship, State Fair of Texas; North East Texas Livestock Association NETLA; and East Texas State Fair.

Kohen Moss earned a total of $8,100 with scholarships from the San Antonio Ag Mechanics Show and the Hopkins County Junior Commercial Heifer Show.

Cash Gamblin and Lane Kerns also each received $6,600 San Antonio Ag Mechanics Show scholarships for winning not only their division, but the grand champion prize for the entire show.

Tracey Shackelford earned a $6,000 Big Tex Scholarship from the State Fair of Texas.

Caroline Coker received a $2,500 NETLA scholarship.

Braddox Rawson received a $2,000 NETLA scholarship.

Machelle Allen received a $1,000 Sterling and Eva Beckham Memorial Scholarship.

Megan Blake received the $500 Bobby McDonald Memorial Scholarship.

Kelsi McCormick received a $750 John Boles Memorial Scholarship.

Jeremy Resendiz received a $500 John Boles Memorial Scholarship.

In addition, according to Sulphur Springs FFA sponsor John Holland, two other FFA members will interview next week for Texas FFA scholarships.

Show results

At the North East Texas Livestock Association Show and Sale, held in February 2024, six members earned Grand Champion titles with their show animals and mechanics projects. The Sulphur Springs FFA Ag Mechanics team took the top prize with their 40-foot hydraulic dovetail trailer. Three members won showmanship champion titles. Forty-five Sulphur Springs FFA and Junior FFA members made the Sale of Champions, earning a total of $233,852.76.

Sixteen Sulphur Springs FFA and Junior FFA members made the sale at the Hopkins County Junior Commercial Heifer Show, earning a total of $153,000.

The Ag Mechanics group prize total from all major shows, which included everything from hand tools to welding equipment and welders, was $50,000. Combined with major stock show earnings estimates of $14,500, the group earned an estimated $64,500 in all.

In total, Sulphur Springs FFA members brought home a grand total of $553,402.76 in winnings, which all went directly to them.

Awards and contests

Five Sulphur Springs FFA Career Development Event (CDE) teams advanced to state competition.

Five Sulphur Springs FFA members won the Area Six Sweepstakes Award. Tracy Shackelford qualified for the state Ag Policy competition, while Jordan VanWinkle qualified in Ag Policy.

Sulphur Springs FFA members competed on 14 Leadership Development Event teams at district competition, with five teams advancing to area competition.

Advanced Floriculture students competed in seven floral cup competitions and consistently placed the top 10 at each one.

Offices, honors and recognitions

Incoming senior Jordan VanWinkle was recently named as a Ford Leadership Scholar. The purpose of the leadership development program, a partnership between the Texas FFA Foundation and Ford Motor Company, is to:

„ Identify students who exhibit high levels of leadership at the chapter level;

„ Engage these identified students in a leadership development program created to enhance those qualities of leadership; and

„ Recognize the Scholars to build a remarkable legacy for the future of our state and nation.

The selection criteria is based upon six characteristics, identified by leaders of the agriculture industry as essential characteristics of leadership: action, relationships, vision, character, awareness and continuous improvement.

The selection process includes an application, examination covering a leadership book, and an in-person evaluation.

Those selected will participate in a one week training seminar prior to the State FFA Convention, which will equip students to go back to their communities to develop substantial and sustainable community service capstone projects.

During that time, they will begin to think about a community service project to work on for the remainder of their time as a scholar. Each Scholar will be assigned a mentor who will assist the Scholar through their leadership project during the fall semester. In late winter or early spring, each Scholar will present his or her project results to the entire group for evaluation. If completed successfully, the Scholar will have effectively completed the Ford Leadership Scholars program.

The Ford Leadership Scholars program provides Scholars with a tremendous opportunity to grow as leaders through the training they will receive, the relationship with their mentor and the exposure they will have to key business and industry leaders. Scholars will also be recognized on stage at the State FFA Convention and receive a $1,000 scholarship.

Over the 2024-2025 school year, VanWinkle will also serve as the Area VI Vice President, a state office. Kindal Shackelford will serve as the Vice President for the Paris District, part of Texas FFA Area 6.

Texas FFA Area 6 covers Bowie, Camp, Cass, Delta, Franklin, Gregg, Harrison, Hopkins, Lamar, Marion, Morris, Panola, Rains, Red River, Rusk, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt and Wood Counties.

Earlier this month, at the 86th Annual Sulphur Springs FFA Awards Banquet on May 14, Walt Gamblin, Leslie Rawson and Spencer Clark were announced as honorary chapter members.

Gamblin was nominated for “spending countless hours helping build projects this year,” Chapter secretary Tracy Shackelford said. “He’s also sponsored projects for other kids to show. He’s bought supplies to help out when we were running low or out, and has helped haul kids to several shows. We’re thankful for Mr. Gamblin’s help and want to welcome him as an honorary member.”

Rawson, according to Shackelford, “has made sure that he was available to help in any way this year.” He was also named an honorary Sulphur Springs FFA member.

Clark, one of four Sulphur Springs FFA advisors and teachers, just joined the Sulphur Springs High School staff this school year. Shackelford said, “He has already made a lasting impression on our chapter. Whether it’s having his newest son Dutton on the first day of school or going on to win the San Antonio Ag Mechanics Show, Mr. Clark has devoted countless hours to the ag mechanics program. It’s not easy coming into a program and hitting the ground running, but [he] has done an exceptional job, not only in the ag mechanics program, but also helping with all the other projects of our FFA program. We are honored to welcome you as an honorary member of the Sulphur Springs FFA program.”

Tracy Shackelford was named Officer of the Year and received a plaque.

Ag teacher and FFA chapter advisor John Holland also bragged on two adults who have contributed to Sulphur Springs FFA’s success. He first recognized agriculture teacher Lindsey Arthur, who has been with SSISD for five years.

“[Arthur] has grown the floral design department tremendously,” Holland said. “Not only has she done well with classroom instruction and labs, but she has continued to be a rock star in training LDE and CDE teams, along with training students for the floral cup competitions. Due to her hard work for our district and FFA Chapter, she has been nominated as the Area 6 Outstanding Mid-Career Ag Teacher. Area 6 has around 100 schools. She is also receiving her Honorary Lone Star Degree.

“Community member Matthew Howell will also receive his State Honorary Lone Star Degree — Non-Teacher award for all of his hard work and dedication to helping our FFA Chapter throughout the last couple of years,” Holland said.