Contributed NEW POSITION — Kelli Pridemore began her new post as agricultural educator at Edison High School, bringing her knowledge from 16 years of teaching in Carrollton to Edison’s estimated 200 ag students and FFA members.

RICHMOND — Kelli Pridemore is getting back to her educational roots and inspiring minds as the new FFA and agricultural educator at Edison High School.

The Carrollton native, who succeeds longtime teacher Chuck Cline, is a graduate of Carrollton High School and later earned her bachelor’s degree in agricultural education at Ohio State University and a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Ashland University. Pridemore served in a similar role at her alma mater in Carrollton for 16 years and now brings her knowledge to Edison to share with 77 ag students and more than 120 FFA members. She hopes to carry on the school’s long-standing traditions.

“I’d like to get more students involved in FFA activities at the local, state, and national level and continue to have students succeed in career development,” she added. “I also want to continue keeping the community involved in Edison FFA activities.”

Pridemore also runs a farm in southern Carroll County with her husband, Steve, with whom she shares six children between the ages of 9 and 22. She took a hiatus following the birth of her youngest child but remained in education, working as an instructional supervisor at Quaker Digital Academy for two years and mentoring other ag teachers for eight years before taking the post at EHS.

“My children are grown with my four youngest in school, and I wanted to teach in school,” she explained. “An opportunity opened up and I’m excited to bring my experience with the program and continue the tradition of Edison’s FFA.”

Through the years, the FFA has earned American and state degrees while members competed in various career development events, the latter of which yielded state individual and team winners to Top 10 finishers. The industrial arts and ag program combined and students have spent their time utilizing the greenhouse and shop, the latter of which includes welding booths, a CNC plasma table and metal-working equipment. Meanwhile, a school team earned seventh place this past year in equine management and will travel to the 55th Annual National Arabian Horse Judging Contest in Tulsa, Okla., Oct. 24-25. The event invites FFA, Arabian Horse Association, and collegiate judging teams to participate.

Students have also gained leadership and community service skills through events such as the annual Classic Tractor Show and Car Cruise-in, fundraisers for the Wounded Warrior Project and Children’s Hospital, participating in Wreaths Across America, holding Veterans Day breakfasts and doing projects at the school ballfields and Jefferson County Fairgrounds. Pridemore said current plans include attending the annual Ohio Farm Science Review this month in London and soil judging events, as well as the National FFA Convention that is set for late October. Members are selling sausage sandwiches during Wildcat football games as a fundraiser for their organization.