Carpenter awarded honorary state FFA degree

Local resident Pete Carpenter was awarded the Honorary State FFA Degree at the State FFA Convention in Gatlinburg. He has been an influential member in the Dyer County High School FFA Alumni as well as the community. From left: Richard Ross, DCHS Ag Teacher, Pat Carpenter (wife) and Pete Carpenter.

Larry "Pete" Carpenter was recently awarded the Honorary State FFA Degree at the State FFA Convention held in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

Carpenter was one of 10 recipients from across the entire state to receive the degree. The degree recognizes those individuals who have performed outstanding service to the FFA and to the local program at Dyer County High School.

Carpenter was a 1965 graduate of Newbern High School and majored in Agriculture. He graduated from UTM in 1969 with a degree in Agricultural Education. Afterward, he taught Vocational Agriculture at Gallatin Senior High School from 1969-1971. He then worked in livestock procurement for Swift and Co., Dinner Bell Foods and Jimmy Dean Foods/Sara Lee Foods for 34 years. Carpenter has served as president of the DCHS FFA Alumni and purchased the Grand Champion hog at the Dyer County Fair for 13 consecutive years for Jimmy Dean Foods.

"He is a quality man that has served as a major FFA alumni mentor, a huge Dyer County Choctaw mentor, and a true friend to the FFA and this community," said Dyer County High School FFA instructor Dan Smith. "He has a tremendous heart and love for agriculture, and continues to maintain its purpose and meaning for all of us."