Page 4 - HIWT Winter2016 World of Welding

This Is FFA! 650,000 Members, 200 American Degrees, 2 Hobart Alumni

By Janet Piechocki

the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a student but it isn’t
easy getting it. Students must make significant accomplishments in
their supervised agricultural experiences (SAE’s).

Two recent HIWT alumni received this illustrious award this year.
Derek Stocker came to HIWT from Ridgewood High School in Ohio
and Christopher Lockhart came from Wirt County High School in
West Virginia.

“This year I had the privilege of walking across the stage with 3
of my class mates from Ridgewood High School and many other
hard working individuals from across the United States” says Derek
Stocker. “The FFA organization has taught me so many things
Recently, Hobart Institute of Welding Technology attended the through the years whether it was about the rewards of hard work
National FFA Convention which was held at the Indiana convention to just taking the time to stop and be thankful for the small things.
center. FFA stands for Future Farmers of America and is a student The motto is something that I have always tried to live by (Learning
organization for those interested in agriculture and leadership. The to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, and Living to Serve). I believe
American FFA degree is awarded at the end of the convention and everyone should be required to take FFA not only to learn about
only a small number of students achieve completion. It is one of where our food comes from, but to have the chance to make lifetime
friendships and bountiful opportunities for
success. The FFA is an amazing organization
that I will continue to be a part of through the
FFA Alumni so I can help future generations
do the same.” Derek is attending
Chattanooga State for Ag Diesel.

Chris Lockhart worked through high school
raising and showing animals and investing
the money into things that would help him
with his future. He also invested money back
into his business by buying more hogs and
equipment he needed to raise his animals. He
was also able to improve his hog barn. Future
plans for Chris include pipelining. Derek is
attending Chattanooga State for Ag Diesel.
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We wish both of these young men much luck
in their future endeavors.

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