Texas FFA officers visit BISD
By Nathan Straus News Reporter

Courtesy Photo Brownsboro FFA Chapter and Greenhand Officers with state officers in front of Texas FFA truck, Back Row Left to Right, Dillion Carver, Jeff Smiley, Bryce Williams, Johnny Oden, Peyton Williams, Rusty Lawrence and Alexis Duran; Front Row Left to right, Daniel Hawkins, Hunter Walters, Holly Hargrave, Haley Suggs, Emily Bynum, State 1st Vice President Tatum Gunn, State President Justin Self, and Andrew Dyer.

The Brownsboro High School Agriculture Department was gifted with a visit from the president and state first vice president of the Texas FFA (formerly the Future Farmers of America, now just FFA). The officers, recently graduated high school students Justin Self, president, and Tatum Gunn, vice president, came to Brownsboro Independent School District around 10:30 am Tuesday, October 30.

Derek Sims, agriculture de- partment teacher, said the agriculture teachers knew the officers were coming, but it was a surprise for the students.

"They came in and gave a speech about passion and perseverance, " Sims said. "They encouraged kids to find their passion and go past it, to follow their dreams."

The visit was part of the officers ' tour of the state's FFA chapters. As part of their conditions of being named president and state first vice president, Sims said they have to take a year off to function as a public relations agent for the FFA.

Tatum and Justin's tour path brought them close to Brownsboro, so they stopped by. Sims said the visit by FFA officers is an annual occurrence, though sometimes it happens in spring rather than fall.

Justin Self is from Troy and Tatum Gunn is from Idalou. They graduated high school in May of 2007.

"They're two bright individuals. They have a passion for what they do," Sims said.