Logan County agriculture teacher Wesley Estes was presented the first-ever Golden Owl Award for his extraordinary efforts as a teacher and advisor for FFA at LCHS Thursday.
Dr. Estes is second generation leader of the premier student organization during Logan County High School’s 43-year history. His dad, Bryan Estes, was a senior when the school and chapter were created and later became the guiding force of LCHS FFA’s success.
The first ag teachers/FFA advisors had come from active FFA chapters in schools which consolidated into LCHS. Franklin Barnes had succeeded Merle M. Johnson as Adairville FFA advisor when Johnson became superintendent. Doug Milliken had been the FFA advisor at Chandlers High School before consolidation. Auburn ag teacher Mike Hurt might have been part of the consolidated ag program, but he was named principal of Auburn Elementary/Middle School when Auburn High School principal Howard Gorrell became the first LCHS principal.
At one time, Auburn FFA advisor Conn Barnett and Lewisburg Advisor Doc Franklin were as well-known as and maybe more powerful than the schools’ basketball coaches. Ag education was already a major force in Logan County Schools.
Milliken and Barnes got the consolidated chapter off to a strong start. Future Logan County and area agriculture leader Bob Allen was named the first Mr. Logan County High School, a sign of the important role FFA played in the new school.
Franklin Barnes retired about the turn of the century. Sadly, his funeral services were conducted last week.
In 2017, not long after he retired, Doug Milliken—who served as an LCHS assistant principal for seven years in the 1990s before returning to the ag classroom—received the Ag Teachers Change Lives Award at the 88th annual Kentucky FFA State Convention in Lexington. This is the highest award given to an agriculture teacher, The LoJo reported then.
After Bryan Estes became a college graduate, he returned to teach agriculture at his alma mater. He became a dynamic leader of the FFA program, making it consistently one of the best chapters in Kentucky.
Jay Campbell, who was highly successful in FFA as an LCHS student and was the top state FFA honoree by The Courier-Journal in 2002, has been a key FFA advisor at his alma mater for almost two decades. His oldest son, Jaynes Campbell, is already in junior leadership roles with the chapter.
Bryan and his wife, the former Jan Scott—also an LCHS graduate who became an Auburn teacher, have two children. Their daughter Robin (now Smotherman) and son Wesley were always around the FFA program from childhood. They both had excellent careers in FFA. In fact, Wesley Estes was named State FFA President and worked with chapters all over the state during his tenure.
When Wesley joined the LCHS faculty in August 2019, librarian Jon Jukes wrote in an article on The Logan Journal: “Wesley Estes begins his teaching career at LCHS in a department already synonymous with the Estes name: Agriculture. Coming to LCHS with a BS in Agriculture and concentration in Education from Western Kentucky University, Wesley assumes the position from which his father, Bryan Estes, retired last school year. He represents the 5th generation to live and work on his family farm raising commercial Angus cattle. When not farming, Wes likes to play golf and go to the lake.”
Students, family and school leaders surprised Dr. Estes with the award Thursday. Among those attending were his wife Morgan and their child, his parents and Milliken.
“He truly embodies what it means to be a good Ag advisor, not just a good one but a great one, fantastic, any adjective that you want to throw in there. He’s just truly been the best role model we could’ve asked for,” Logan FFA President Sophee Spears told WBKO News.
Estes wants to encourage every student to get involved in FFA if they have the opportunity.
“I can’t think of an organization that does a better job of preparing kids for life or whatever it is. Some of the best people I know are AG teachers. Some of the best kids that I know are FFA members and officers,” Wesley Estes said.
The Golden Owl Award is new to Kentucky this year. The following is a description of the award and its significance from state FFA headquarters:
FFA wouldn't exist without agriculture teachers.
It's vital for us to encourage and recognize our teachers for their work Growing Leaders, Building Communities & Strengthening Agriculture.
That's why we are thrilled to announce the Kentucky FFA Golden Owl Award.
Presented by Nationwide® and the Kentucky FFA Foundation, the Golden Owl Award® recognizes agricultural educators across Kentucky for their tremendous contributions to helping the next generation of agricultural leaders. Students, fellow teachers and other supporters can nominate their favorite agricultural teacher and summarize what makes him or her the best in the state.
The goal of this program is to recognize agriculture teachers for their tremendous hard work, but there are prizes!
Each Region in Kentucky FFA will have a Golden Owl Award Winner that will receive a plaque, meaningful recognition and $500.
Those regional winners will complete an additional application and one of them will be selected as the Kentucky Agriculture Educator of the Year.
They will receive on stage recognition at Kentucky FFA State Convention, a plaque and $3,000!