WV Farm Bureau Magazine May 2016 | Page 12

The Mettle for “FFA is not all cows and plows,” and three students from Buckhannon-Upshur High School proved that when they won first place and a $10,000 prize at the Small Farm Business Plan Contest that was held at the WVU Erikson Alumni Center on the 19th of March. Metal Students from Upshur County’s FFA chapter show they have what it takes to compete in the business world Tabby Bennett 12 West Virginia Farm Bureau News Natalie Thorpe, Brian Carson and Leah Stankus, facilitated by their FFA Advisor/Ag. Ed. Teacher, Connie Scarbrough, started a custom metal working business called Three Amigos Metal Works and engineered a plan for success. The metal working idea was developed on a field trip at the North American International Livestock Exposition. At the expo, the students discovered several ideas, and decided to use them as inspiration for a business of their own. Metal working and creating lawn and other types of decorations to sell stood out to Thorpe, Stankus and Carson. After learning about many different business ventures, and discussing their individual