Walker Wins State Award as Freshman in High School

June 10, 2020

Dayton, Tn -- Walker Housley recently won first the  East Tennessee Division Greenhand Degree, which came with a plaque and $250.00 cash award.   For winning the State Star Greenhand Award he received a $1,000 scholarship to the Leadership Conference in Washington, DC and gets to take part in the FFA state tour.

The Tennessee FFA Star Tour offers the Stars a platform to share the work from their agricultural projects with supporters across Tennessee.  The tour begins in Doyle at the Tennessee FFA Leadership Training Camp, where the Stars will plan their presentation for the week.  That evening, Stars will make a presentation before fellow FFA members attending camp.

The Chapter Star Greenhand Award is a prestigious award presented every year to the chapter's most active first-year member who has a plans for a strong supervised agricultural experience program and has demonstrated leadership within the FFA is selected to win the Star Greenhand award.

Walker Housley from the Rhea County FFA chapter.   Walker is the son of James and Stephanie housley of Dayton Tennessee.  Walker works on his family farm Sunset Oaks Simmentals.  The farm's enterprises showing and selling registered and commercial stock.  What sets Walker apart from the other first year FFA members is his multiple SAE projects including placement research and entrepreneurship. 

Walker's responsibilities such as feeding the herd and working with the show stream he also handles the farm's social media accounts, registration for shows and sales marketing channel and selecting sires and dams. Walker also personally owns eight heifers five cows five and two bulls.  He is currently conducting a research study working to determine which type of embryo transfer conventional are in vitro fertilization yields the highest conception rate.   Walker is an aspiring auctioneer and  he has volunteered his services to many local regional and national auctions for fundraisers.

Walker also completed an internship at the North American International Livestock Expo. Walker has provided leadership to his chapter by serving as the president of the junior officer team leadership development event as well.   Walker aspires to become a lifestyle marketing association world champion auctioneer and plans for this career to support his meat production enterprise.

Walker hopes to continue raising and showing cattle and exploring additional reproductive strategies to enhance his heard genetics.  His belief in faith family and farming have made Walker Housley the East Tennessee star green hand your eastern greenhand and state greenhand award winner.

Star Greenhand Award:

This is a award given to first-year high school students who have demonstrated that they have a thorough understanding of the history and purpose of Future Farmers of America(FFA) and have an SAE plan

 The requirements to applying for this award are:

Enroll in an agricultural education program and have satisfactory plans for a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).

Learn and explain the FFA Creed, FFA Mission and Motto, and FFA salute.
Describe and explain the meaning of the FFA emblem and FFA colors.
Demonstrate an understanding of the FFA Code of Ethics and the proper use of the FFA jacket.

Demonstrate an understanding of the history of the organization, the chapter constitution and bylaws and the chapter Program of Activities.
Own or have access to the Official FFA Manual and the Official FFA Student Handbook.

Walker submitted a written application for the Greenhand FFA Degree.

Placement:  Working somewhere.  Walker works on  the Family Farm.

Entreprenuersship:  Walker has done several auctioneering events.

Researcch Walker worked with Dr. Bickett an embryologist in Georgia.  in study related to Cattle.

Auctioneering :  First young leaders conference for Farm Burerau, Columbia.  Nine auctioneering events.

Walker said, "I was very excited.  I was mentally prepared.  If I lose, I willl give God the glory.  Highest level in the state."

In 4H, Walker participated in livestock judging, meat judging, hog project, and beef projects.   He is a member of honor club.  

Walker complted the SAE back in September of 2019.  The application is the most important part of the process.  Letters of recommendation were also part of the process.

In January Walker went to UT,  and took quizz based on FFA knowledge and interview.  At the state level there three representatives.  One Tennessee representative from East(Walker),  Middle Tennessee and West Tennessee.  

Application counted the most.  Other factors were the interview and test.

Walker's mom, Stephanie Housley, said, "It is pretty incredible  We see the hard work he does."

A few of the things, Walker in involved in: Cattle show and compete in other contests, genetics, cattleman's quiz, livestock judging, public speaking, showmanship and sales talk and howing simmental cattle(American junior simmentaltype of breed).

The State convention in March.  Virtual meet.  Interview was through zoom.  No face to face interview.  Tennessee FFA live facebook stream.  Camp Clements, Doyle Tennessee.

Coming up in South Dakota are the Junior Nationals, happening July 11-16 at Brookings, South Dakota.