Future Farmers of America_1

Future Farmers of America students learn about agricultural safety at Southern Palmetto Farms on Friday, Sept. 20 for the Horry County Agricultural Leadership Forum.

On a modern agritourism farm framed by traditional fields of cotton and corn, the seven Future Farmers of America chapters in Horry County learned about the past, present and future of agriculture on Friday, Sept. 20.

About 210 students 鈥 30 each from the seven high schools with agriculture education programs in Horry County 鈥 took part in the County Agricultural Leadership Forum at Southern Palmetto Farms near Aynor.

Students rotated through seven education and game stations. They met state-level student FFA leaders, bagged some swag, viewed equipment including a combine and a cotton picker, learned about volunteering, and took a hay ride.

The Farm Bureau brought its farm combine simulator and gave away prizes for answering ag-related multiple choice questions like who invented the cotton gin (Eli Whitney), and how many varieties of peaches are grown in South Carolina (40).

鈥淭hey鈥檙e doing pretty good,鈥 Faith Truesdale, the Farm Bureau鈥檚 Pee Dee District Director, said of the students she was quizzing.

The Clemson University Extension Service offered an ag safety seminar, and Horry Georgetown Technical College had booths for its Golf and Sports Turf Management program, and its Forestry Department.

Other exhibitors at the career and college expo station included the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service, the NASCAR Race Lab and the University of Mount Olive School of Agriculture.

While Horry County鈥檚 agrarian economy has diversified since the mid-20th century, agriculture remains an important part of the mix west of the waterway.

鈥淭here鈥檚 still a lot of traditional agriculture in Horry County,鈥 said Lee Mayfield, an ag teacher and FFA leader at Green Sea Floyds High School.

While it鈥檚 difficult for a young farmer to start from scratch without inheriting land and equipment, Mayfield said there are other career options for students with an interest in agriculture, including some that don鈥檛 involve getting your hands dirty.

鈥淲e want to expose them to opportunities in agriculture, leadership, careers and college,鈥 said Brooke Hall, an ag teacher and FFA leader at Loris High School. 鈥淪TEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math); that's what agriculture is to its core.鈥

鈥淭here鈥檚 something for everybody here,鈥 said Lily Mishoe, an 11th-grade ag student and FFA officer from Loris. That comment applied to both the leadership forum, as well as the choice of ag-related careers.

The FFA touts potential careers in agribusiness, agrimarketing, ag education and communications, science, natural resources management, horticulture and more.

Mayfield said other job options could include sales, ag engineering, hydroponic farming, landscape design, turf and lawn management, and golf course groundskeeping.

鈥淚 want to be in the wildlife side of it,鈥 said Anasley Ward, a ninth-grader and FFA member from Loris High School.

Agritourism is also gaining a foothold in Horry County.

Southern Palmetto Farms鈥 fall lineup includes a pumpkin patch, a six-acre corn maze, a mini cotton maze, farm animal alley, games, wagon rides and more each weekend in October.

Reach Casey Jones at 843-488-7261 or casey.jones@myhorrynews.com.

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