FFA Proceedings 2002

H.O. Sargent Awards
16
Sponsored by Monsanto as a
special project of the National
FFA Foundation.
The National FFA
Organization established the
H.O. Sargent Award in honor of
the New Farmers of America
(NFA) in 1995. The award was
also created to recognize and
remember the organization’s
place in history with the FFA.
As the former organization for
African-American agricultural
students, the NFA began in
1928 in Virginia under the guidance
of Dr. H.O. Sargent. In
1965 the NFA merged with the
Holly Deal’s service to others and commitment to diversity
were recognized when she was named 2002 H.O. Sargent
Award winner.
PHOTO BY ED ZURGA
FFA, adding 50,000 members to
the agricultural education organization.
The H.O. Sargent Award is
given to FFA members and nonmembers
who are active in supporting
and recognizing cultural
diversity in agricultural education
and within their communities.
This year’s member award
went to Holly Deal of the South
Rowan FFA Chapter in China
Grove, N.C. Deal has devoted
considerable time to the service
of others. Her work in promoting
diversity began when she
volunteered and later coordinated
the English for Students of
Other Languages (ESOL) program.
Through TEACH program,
Deal works with specialneeds
students, providing tutoring
and presenting agricultural
instruction to TEACH classes.
Drefus Williams of South
Carolina and Carla Bluhm of
Indiana were recognized as
recipients of the non-member
H.O. Sargent Awards.
Williams has been involved
with agricultural education for
more than 50 years. In
1953, he began his career as an
agriculture teacher and NFA
advisor. After the NFA merged
with the National FFA
Organization, Williams and his
students made adjustments to
the chapter operations, ceremonies,
and national and state
activities. No matter what their
race, creed or ethnic background,
Williams treated all his
students equally.
When Adams Central
Community Schools in Monroe,
Ind., lost its FFA advisor in
2001, Bluhm took the initiative
and stepped up to serve as interim
advisor. Her home became
the temporary FFA meeting
location. Under her guidance,
15 FFA members competed in
state leadership competitions.
Drefus Williams was one of two adults
recognized with the H.O. Sargent
award for their active support and
recognition of cultural diversity within
their communities and agricultural
education.
H.O. Sargent
Member Winner
Holly Deal
South Rowan FFA Chapter
North Carolina
National Finalists
Rudy Espinoza
Miami Senior FFA Chapter
Florida
Cathie Reidenbach
Adams Central FFA Chapter
Indiana
Yarimar Lebron Lopez
S.U. Manuel Mendia Moret FFA
Chapter
Puerto Rico
Non-Member
National Recipients
Carla Bluhm
Indiana
Drefus Williams
South Carolina
PHOTO BY ED ZURGA