PINETOWN — Northside High School recently held an event that allowed students to take part in an active discussion about leadership, decision-making and life skills.

The FFA leadership panel, dubbed, “Wake Up to Ag Leadership,” featured a panel of six local and state representatives of different agricultural-related agencies and organizations, said Amanda Watkins, FFA advisor and teacher at NHS. Among the panelists were: Sarah Harkey, FFA president of University of Mount Olive; Ashlynn Spell, N.C. FFA vice president; Kara Holland, former vice president of N.C. FFA; Peyton Holland, state director for SkillsUSA; Sarah Lemons, N.C. FFA state president; and Archie Griffin, a local farmer at Griffin Farms of Washington. Griffin is also committee chair for the Beaufort County Young Farmers and Ranchers, Watkins said.

Watkins said the panel was open to all NHS students. At the event, panelists discussed subject matter pertaining to leadership, decision-making and life skills and choice, Watkins said. The panel went in depth in discussing issues like what types of careers are available for students who want to attend college but want to come back to Beaufort County to live and work. Other discussion was centered on how students can get involved and lead in their own communities without having a title or office in a specific organization, Watkins said.

In its third year, the student-organized project involved students picking panelists for the event, making a list of questions that would be discussed at the event and pulling the project together. FFA students provided breakfast as a teacher appreciation function, as well as for the guest panelists. Last year, the panel focused on agricultural-related careers and the future of agriculture in North Carolina, Watkins said.

“I work really hard to make sure my students are not just good students but that they’re prepared for life beyond high school,” Watkins said. “We focus on skills they can use in whatever career whether it’s ag-related or not. These experiences really give them a lot of life skills they need to do well in their careers.”

Christina Winstead, a NHS junior and vice president of the NHS FFA chapter, said the event allowed students to see people who are involved in agriculture in the state and come from all different backgrounds. Students also heard testimony from panelists relating to going to college and coming back to one’s home community to work and contribute to its betterment.

“You really get to see the role agriculture plays in different parts of the state,” Winstead said. “You really get to hear everyone’s opinion on everything — college and staying where you are, what the options are, how there may not be jobs for you in your home community that relate to your field. You hear about things that will affect you when you’re older and you hear from people who’ve been through it and can help mentor you. It was really interesting and really had a great impact on our students.”