High Rock FFA members conduct water quality tests during the North Carolina FFA Wildlife Camp.
Chartered in 2010, High Rock FFA is currently one of three FFA chapters offered to homeschool students in North Carolina.
“My husband, Jones Loflin, and I serve as advisors [for High Rock FFA],” says Lisa Loflin. “Both of us were active FFA members in school and served as state officers together. Jones also held the distinction of serving as a national officer.
When we were approached about starting a homeschool chapter, we knew it would look different from a traditional chapter. As volunteer advisors with limited face-to-face interaction with members, we understood there would be challenges. However, we also recognized the profound impact FFA had on our lives and knew students in our homeschool community could benefit greatly — even if we couldn’t offer all the opportunities of a traditional chapter.”
Success
Since being chartered, the High Rock FFA Chapter has seen tremendous success on a state and national level. Its accomplishments include:
- Second place and second-highest scorer in the National FFA Environmental Natural Resource Career Development Event (CDE)
- Third place in the National FFA Employment Skills Leadeship Development Event (LDE)
- First place in the state Forestry CDE
- First place in the state Extemporaneous Public Speaking LDE
- Second place in the state Creed Speaking LDE
- One American FFA Degree recipient
The 2024-25 senior and junior High Rock FFA forestry teams.
Scholarship
Sydney Loflin, the 2021-22 North Carolina FFA state president and a High Rock FFA alumna, says the Alicia Greer Memorial Scholarship is what makes this chapter unique.
“Our chapter raises funds through our Christmas cookie kit sale each year,” she adds. “Members donate ingredients and work together to make cookies and frosting from scratch, bake the cookies and package the kits for sale. The scholarship is for young women in Nicaragua to attend college. The scholarship is in memory of Alicia Greer, one of our former chapter members who passed away in high school. Since she did not get the opportunity to attend college, we want to make that dream happen for other young women. So far, our chapter has funded two full scholarships for two young women in Nicaragua.”
Members pack cookie decorating kits that will be sold to raise money for the Alicia Greer Memorial Scholarship.
Outside of the Classroom
The current chapter president, Noah Black, added remarks about some of his favorite events hosted throughout the year. “For me, our chapter banquet and following end-of-year retreat are highlights,” he says. “The banquet allows us to come together and recognize what we have accomplished, and the retreat is a great time to have fun as a chapter.”
High Rock FFA members are also able to participate in all FFA events provided to members by the North Carolina FFA Association.
“I am looking forward to going to our state capitol for Legislative Day,” says Daniel Isaac Klejmont, the chapter’s chaplain. “I’m also excited about the Livestock Evaluation CDE and the North Carolina Envirothon competition.”
High Rock FFA members host an interactive wildlife booth during the Davidson County Fair.
Curriculum
“Most of us have joined [the chapter] by participating in our advisor’s environmental science and natural resources classes,” says High Rock FFA Secretary Ellie Black. “Other homeschool students can join by participating in approved agriculture classes.
Our curriculum is keyed in on environmental and natural resources, but this includes many principles that are included in agriculture, such as soil, aquatics, forestry, wildlife implications, best management practices and current environmental issues.”
According to Sydney Loflin, “Many people try to separate the environment and agriculture, but to care about one, you must care about the other. They are interconnected, and students are trained in activities like an oral presentation component to help them realize that.
High school students are given a scenario, often where a farmer wants to enhance their farm to limit erosion, increase pollination, etc. They work together as a team to draft a plan for the farm, then present it to the rest of the class. Many students who graduated and went to college (myself included) have said this practice makes group work and presentations in their college classes much easier.”
Members learn to make fishing flies at North Carolina FFA Wildlife Camp.
Impact
Reflecting on her experiences, High Rock FFA Treasurer Hunter Hunsucker says, “It has made me more confident in so many things like public speaking and meeting new people. I have made so many connections through FFA.”
From Lisa Loflin’s perspective, “Advising this chapter has been — and continues to be — a privilege and a joy. We’re honored to welcome homeschool students into the FFA family and help them grow as leaders and stewards of agriculture and our natural resources.”
