National FFA Program Specialist Visits Mount Olive College
MOUNT OLIVE – National FFA Collegiate Program Specialist, Cindy Hefner, and North Carolina’s State Agricultural Education Coordinator, Joshua Bledsoe recently visited University of Mount Olive to learn more about the AgriScience Education and Collegiate FFA programs. Ms. Hefner, traveled from the National FFA office in Indianapolis, Id. to North Carolina to visit NC State, NC A&T State, and University of Mount Olive Collegiate FFA chapters.
Hefner and Bledsoe spent the day talking with students, faculty, and administration in an effort to determine what makes a strong Collegiate FFA Chapter and AgriScience Education progam. Dr. Kerstetter greeted the visitors and answered questions about the uniqueness of an agriculture program and CFFA at a private faith-based college. Students explained why they selected University of Mount Olive versus one of the land grant institutions such as NC State where agriculture curriculums are traditional.
“We were excited to have Ms. Hefner and Mr. Bledsoe on campus asking student opinions about our Ag Ed program and about Collegiate FFA here at University of Mount Olive,” stated CFFA President Edward Olive a junior in AgScience Education from Benson. “The key to the success of both Ag Ed and CFFA is the total commitment to service; service to the students in providing a strong curriculum and internship opportunities and commitment to community service through CFFA.”
AgriScience Education freshman Hannah Singleton of Goldsboro said, “CFFA is not about the members, but about what the members can do with and for the community, whether it is the college community or the community as a whole. This was a unique opportunity for us to have National FFA visitors asking for our input.”
University of Mount Olive will host later this month an additional visit by Wyatt DeJong, National FFA Vice President and Larry Goosen of the Local Program Success Team from National FFA.
University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The College, sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists, has locations in Mount Olive, New Bern, Wilmington, Goldsboro, Research Triangle Park, Washington and Jacksonville. For more information, visit www.moc.edu.