South Georgia Tech Heavy Equipment student wins FFA National competition

   South Georgia Technical College Caterpillar Heavy Equipment Dealer Service Technology student, Brantley Lane Douglas, captured first place in the nation in Agriculture Repair and Maintenance Proficiency.  He was recognized during the televised FFA Virtual National Convention held recently.  He is an apprentice with Yancey Caterpillar at the facility in Statesboro.

   He was also awarded the American FFA Degree Key during the Virtual National FFA Convention.  The American FFA Degree Key is the highest FFA degree awarded.    Only one percent of FFA members ever attain the American FFA Degree.  To be eligible, a student must have received the State FFA Degree; completed three years of Agriculture Education classes; earned and invested $10,000 in their Supervised Agriculture Experience program; completed 50 hours of community service and participated in FFA events on the local and state level.

   Douglas is the third generation in his family to advance to the FFA Nationals.  His grandfather, Preston Deese, attended the FFA Nationals and his aunt, Lauren Deese, was also an FFA National participant.  Douglas’ grandfather, family members, friends and his high school FFA instructors were all on hand to recognize him at a celebration at his high school in Screven County when the announcement was made that he was the “BEST” in the nation.  He has been involved with FFA since he was in the sixth grade.

    “I had no idea that I would win,” said Douglas.  “I felt very good about the hands on portion of the competition and documenting it, but I was nervous about the three hours of interviews and the book portion and tests.”

    Douglas turned in a two-inch binder of documentation to the national committee.  He competed against over 200 individuals in the state competition and won.  That earned him the right to advance to the national level where he was competing against three other top individuals from around the nation.  His top competitors were from Ohio, Missouri, and California.

    South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford and SGTC Heavy Equipment Dealer’s Service Technology Instructor Kyle Hartsfield congratulated Douglas on his achievement.  “We are so very proud of you and your accomplishments,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. Watford.  “You have been recognized as the ‘Best’ in the nation and we are honored that you chose South Georgia Technical College to continue your education.  I know that Yancey and Caterpillar are very proud of you as well.”

    South Georgia Technical College Heavy Equipment Dealer’s Service Technology Instructor Kyle Hartsfield also congratulated Douglas. “I really hate that he did not get to go to the national convention and enjoy it,” said Hartsfield.  “Lane was invited to attend the convention last year but did not go because he didn’t want to miss one of his tests here.  That just shows that he has his priorities straight,” smiled Hartsfield who added, “we are very proud of him and he is a great student with a good work ethic.”

  Douglas was selected as a finalist in the FFA National Proficiency Award program in the area of Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Placement.  He earned the right to be a finalist by winning state.  From there, his proficiency application was sent on to Indianapolis for national judging.

   Participants in the National Agricultural Proficiency Awards program receive a rating of “National Finalist,” “Gold,” “Silver,” “Bronze,” “Participant,” or “Disqualified.”  Four National Finalists were selected for each of the 47 award areas to go on to compete through a virtual interview process for a national proficiency award.  Douglas was one of the top four students in the nation to compete in this area.

   Douglas receives a $500 cash award and a plaque for being a national finalist and an additional $500 award and a plaque for winning the national competition.

   Douglas completed his Supervised Agriculture Experience program work at Wammock Milling Company, SmithCo Heavy Diesel and Yancey Caterpillar where he has worked maintaining and repairing agricultural equipment.  Douglas is currently a student at South Georgia Technical College’s Think Big Heavy Equipment Dealers Service Technology Program and an apprentice with Yancey Caterpillar.

   He alternates between working at the Yancey facility in Statesboro and taking classes at South Georgia Technical College in Americus where he is studying to be a heavy diesel mechanic.

   The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of American, is a national youth organization of 760,113 student members – all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture – as part of 8,739 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.