Four agricultural leaders were inducted into the prestigious FFA Wall of Honor during a ceremony held June 6 in Montgomery at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association building. The ceremony was part of the 84th Annual State FFA Convention.The late Jerry Keith Adair of Montevallo, John Meeks of Glencoe, Brandon Moore of Prattville and State Sen. Tom Whatley of Auburn were each nominated for the honor for their service to agriculture and FFA.Adair was an agriscience teacher at Montevallo High School, where he built a successful FFA program that was active on local, district, state and national levels. He started the Montevallo FFA Alumni Council, coached numerous students in FFA competitions and motivated students to seek district and state FFA offices.Gordon Patterson, Jacob Davis and Chad Williams nominated Adair for the Wall of Honor. His family accepted the award on his behalf.
Meeks taught agriscience education for 34 years, the last 32 at Glencoe High School in Etowah County. He helped write the state course of study for aqua science and was one of the first teachers in Alabama to build an aquaculture laboratory at his school. He taught summer workshops in aquascience and in metal forging for other agriscience teachers.Former students, friends and fellow agriculture teachers in Etowah County nominated Meeks.Moore, director of the Alabama Farmers Federation Young Farmers Division, was raised on a farm in Toney, located in Madison County, where he was active in his high school FFA chapter. His career with the Federation began in 2002, and he immediately began working closely with FFA students, advisors and state staff. He organized and hosted mock interviews for numerous FFA national officer candidates and organized several dinners and tours at the Alabama Statehouse, Capitol and the Federation’s home office.Moore has attended FFA district competitions for the past 11 years and worked tirelessly through the state legislative process to secure funding that would extend contracts for agriscience teachers for summer months. He has served as a member of the Alabama Team Ag Ed group and currently serves as vice chairman. He also serves on the State Department of Education’s Commission on Career and Technical Education.“The most rewarding work I do allows me to provide opportunities for others,” Moore said. “I am blessed to work for an organization that allows me to do that for FFA.”Friends, along with the Alabama Farmers Federation, nominated Moore.
Whatley, chairman of the Alabama Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, has a long history with FFA, having served as a state officer when he attended Beauregard High School in 1988. He grew up on a dairy farm in Lee County and participated in numerous FFA events, including market hog shows and judging teams.Whatley was elected to the state Senate in 2010. As chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, he has sponsored numerous resolutions recognizing the hard work of the FFA and its members.As Whatley accepted his award, he spoke directly to the FFA members in the audience. “The people you meet and the friends you make through FFA will be the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
Friends and the Alabama Farmers Federation nominated Whatley for the honor.