Kevin Kayton competing in a horticulture judging competition.
Kevin Kayton is a rising junior with Southern FFA in Maryland, where he developed his greenhouse management Supervised Agricultural Experience. Over the past three years, Kayton has served as the committee chair, working with the members of his chapter to create and implement new ideas inside the chapter greenhouse. While in FFA, he competed in the Creed speaking leadership development event at the Maryland State Convention and the milk quality career development event for the last two years. This year, he serves Southern FFA as the chapter treasurer and the greenhouse’s head maintainer.
Kevin Kayton
During his greenhouse management SAE, Kayton has developed and expanded his knowledge of plants and leading students. This year alone, he has spent 47 hours working in the greenhouse, from germinating seeds to weeding beds and managing plant sales.
“This greenhouse has been so much fun, and I’ve enjoyed it with the other officers and members,” Kayton notes. The produce grown in the greenhouse has been given away to staff at the school, chapter members and community members who attend the local Blessing of the Harvesters event hosted by the Anne Arundel County Young Farmers.
One of the chapter’s flower beds is full of herbs, including basil, rosemary and thyme.
Through his SAE, Kayton has developed a fascination with plants and continues to grow his passion for helping his community through his time and effort in the greenhouse. His other SAE is his backyard garden, which he manages at home and grows food for his family. Kayton continues to put in tremendous effort as head maintainer of the greenhouse and as a chapter officer.
One of the chapter’s bountiful harvests this year included green peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers and squash.
