FFA Feature
Web Page Tools Print this Article

We’re All Unique

FFA H.O. Sargent Award recipient teaches tolerance

We’re All Unique

Wesley Hunter recieved a plaque as the 2007 H.O. Sargent winner



May 2008

The student body at Vanguard High School in Ocala, Fla., is a pretty diverse group of kids. Not only will you find racial and economic diversity at Vanguard – you’ll also find a mix of rural and urban students whose life experiences and everyday activities differ based on where they live.

Longtime FFA member and recent high school graduate Wesley Hunter didn’t want anyone at his school to be left out of agricultural education just because he or she didn’t live on a farm. So he helped students from both urban and rural areas get hands-on agricultural experience, regardless of where they lived, by developing nontra­ditional FFA supervised agricultural experience programs (SAEs).

During his senior year, Wes mentored about 30 students a semester in aquaculture, horticulture and small animal projects.

“We had chickens, geckos, rabbits, fish, even a cockatiel in the classroom,” he says. “I helped the less experienced students do research and find resources, and I helped mentor them in all the details of bringing an animal to show at the fair.”

In his community, Wes helped get people from different Christian denominations together to raise scholarship money for local youth. And he participated in a horsemanship group that included riders of all ages, from little kids to senior citizens, teaching and learning from one another. For his efforts, Wes was named the 2007 FFA H.O. Sargent Diversity Award winner.

You’ve probably heard the word “diversity” a million times, but how many of us realize the concept goes beyond just recognizing or tolerating the differences between ourselves and other people? Diversity implies understanding and valuing our differences in order that all our lives may be enriched.

The H.O. Sargent Award, a core program of the National FFA Organization, encourages members to initiate activities promoting diversity in agricultural education and FFA.

Some activities that qualify for the H.O. Sargent program include:

• Creating opportunities for disabled students to show livestock.
• Coming up with a membership recruitment program that might appeal to a wide variety of students.
• Organizing diversity-awareness campaigns, such as NFA Week.
• Modeling inclusiveness to others.
• Promoting agricultural careers to different groups.

To learn more about the H.O. Sargent Award or to apply, visit www.ffa.org and click on Award Programs under General Links.

Story by Carol Cowan


Recent Comments


Only members can view user comments.

Are you a member? If so, please log-in. Not a member? Please register. Have you forgotten your password?



The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Visit ffa.org