Oglethorpe County High School’s agriculture and FFA students have a busy fall semester ahead.
OCHS will host three FFA Career Development Events, or CDEs, Thursday, including events in environmental and natural resources, floral design and meat evaluation. The school hosted the competition last year, drawing about 500 spectators.
Agriculture teacher Jordan Paul said she expects 350-400 attendees this year.
Students will also compete at FFA Day at the Fair on Oct. 13. One student will compete in the tractor operation CDE on Oct. 29.
Two students, junior Rex Allen and sophomore Remington Boswell, will compete in the National FFA Talent program at the 2026 National FFA Convention & Expo on Oct. 20.
“They’ll get to perform at the national convention in front of over 6,000 members, guests and folks there,” Paul said.
Allen has competed in FFA talent competitions before, but will make his first appearance at the national convention this year.
“My biggest problem is that I don’t really have a big stage and microphone to play on,” Allen said. “So I started playing at my church, and started doing that so I can get on an actual stage and use a microphone to project my voice better.”
Allen plans to perform 1990s country music, a genre he said isn’t often played at the national talent program.
“I’ve always wanted to play at nationals because I’ve had other friends that have gone and done it,” he said.”I just kind of thought that’s something I’d want to do.”
The agriculture program serves 184 students at OCHS, with enrollment typically hovering around 200. Every student enrolled in an agriculture course is also an FFA member through Georgia’s affiliation program.
Courses cover horticulture, floral design, animal science and animal production management. Students also have access to facilities for woodworking, metal fabrication, electrical wiring and small engine work at OCHS.
For students studying horticulture, some of the program’s most hands-on work takes place in its greenhouse.
Students learn about plant biology and growing conditions in class before heading to the greenhouse to transplant and care for young plants.
The plants they maintain from late January through April become part of the program’s spring plant sale. Proceeds help pay for materials and plants for future classes.
But the greenhouse needs work. At nearly 29 years old, its water lines, fans and cool cell pad need replacing.
”Most of those help with environmental controls,” Paul said. “It can help maintain the plants and keep them nice and warm.”
School officials are weighing whether to refurbish the existing greenhouse or build a new one. Sarah Hughes, the district’s Career, Technical and Agricultural Education director, has been seeking estimates for both options, Paul said.
Superintendent Philip Powell also discussed the possibility of renovating the greenhouse with contractors at the Board of Education’s work session on Aug. 25. No decisions have been made.
“I think the greenhouse is a very valuable tool to help students learn skills and get experience that would be applicable to the workforce here in Oglethorpe County,” Paul said.
Paul noted Oglethorpe County residents can also support the potential project via Georgia’s PEACH Education Tax Credit, which lets them direct a portion of their state income tax toward Oglethorpe County Schools.