Beebe’s Prothro is Outstanding New Ag Educator, Greenbrier High honored

ArFB President Randy Veach (r), Chad Mooney of Clinton High School and ArFB Vice President Rich Hillman

Arkansas Farm Bureau recognized Chad Mooney of Clinton High School as its Outstanding Ag Educator. Beebe High School’s Zeb Prothro earned the Outstanding New Ag Educator Award, and Greenbrier High School grabbed the top spot as the Outstanding Ag Education Program. All were recognized at Farm Bureau’s 84th Annual Convention Nov. 29 at the Hot Springs Convention Center.

The Outstanding Ag Educator award recognizes a high school agriculture education instructor for efforts in teaching young people about agriculture, leadership and involvement in the National FFA Organization. The Clinton High School program includes 260 students in ag education and FFA. Among his numerous accomplishments, Mooney planned and implemented the addition of a horticulture program that included adding an additional teacher and a greenhouse. He also oversaw the addition of an animal science facility that includes 30 livestock pens, a show ring, goat and lamb walker, and cattle working facilities that provide hands-on practice for animal science classes. He’s also had 10 students take electricity classes and become master electricians.

ArFB President Randy Veach (r), Zeb Prothro of Beebe High School and ArFB Vice President Rich Hillman.

ArFB President Randy Veach (r), the Greenbrier High School FFA members and ArFB Vice President Rich Hillman

Prothro earned the top New Ag Educator Award for his work at Beebe High School where he has 290 students involved. “I enjoy making the classroom, shop and laboratory experiences competitive. All of my students grind and compete daily with each other,” Prothro said. “Enthusiasm and competition are expectations in my class.”

Greenbrier High School was recognized for its popular ag education program that has 402 student participants. The program teachers include Rodney Wiedower, Becca Spinks and Troy Weatherly. The Greenbrier program is described as “a true well-rounded program that consistently turns out excellent students into their community.”

Earlier this year, Angela Jones was honored as the state’s Ag in the Classroom Outstanding Teacher. Jones is a 10th-grade English teacher at Greenwood High School. She received an expense-paid trip to Portland, Maine where she represented Arkansas at the National Ag in the Classroom Conference in June.

Arkansas Farm Bureau is a nonprofit, private advocacy organization of almost 192,000 families throughout the state working to improve farm and rural life.

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For more information, contact:

Rob Anderson
(501) 228-1640
rob.anderson@arfb.com

or

Gregg Patterson
(501) 228-1282
gregg.patterson@arfb.com