By James Day
Longtime Silverton High FFA adviser Scott Towery received the group’s highest honor at the 95th national convention in October.
Towery, who has taught agricultural science at Silverton since 2006, was awarded the Honorary American FFA Degree at the Indianapolis event.
The degree is awarded to individuals who have created high-quality agricultural education programs which inspire and motivate their students to strive for success.
Counting his years at Cascade High in Turner, Towery has sent 22 teams to the national competition, including 20 from Silverton.
More than 80 of Towery’s students have earned the Oregon State FFA degree, 15 have won the American Farmer FFA degree and three have served as state officers.
Towery, who is assisted by Monica Baker with the FFA program, teaches agricultural leadership, basic welding, metal art welding, advanced welding and fabrication 1 and 2 at the high school.
Silverton most recently sent 14 students to the national event and two groups finished in the top 20 in their respective disciplines.
The ag mechanic team of Kaleb Schurter, Gabe Voll, Jenna Schurter and Henry Bielenberg took 11th, while Kendra Kuenzi, Lena Tribbett, David Tribbett and Erin Towery combined to take 18th in agronomy.
In addition to the national success the team of David Tribbett, Jenna Schurter, Rebecca Noordam and Joanne Noordam took first in the state ag sales competition held in Corvallis. The victory earned the foursome a slot at nationals next October.
