North Moore High’s Nursery & Landscape team is hitting the road. The group, under the direction of faculty member Bradley Kidd, finished first at the 2025 North Carolina FFA (Future Farmers of America) State Convention in June. Held at the Raleigh Convention Center in downtown Raleigh, the annual event brings together students from across the state to compete in events, go to leadership sessions, and take part in workshops focused on personal growth.
Bradley, who’s been teaching in Moore County for 20 years, is the FFA advisor for North Moore’s team. He previously held the same position at Union Pines.
The win – the first for North Moore’s FFA at the state level – sends the students to the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo, which runs from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
“It’s an honor we’ve tried to get for years,” Bradley, a graduate of North Carolina State, said. “It’s exciting. We get to represent the state of North Carolina.”
Team members are Luke Atkins, Gavin Moore, Kasey Williams and Braden Sutherland, who was the highest-scoring individual. Going to Indiana offers perks to participants that extend beyond competition.
“I love for them to have the opportunity to see agriculture in other states,” Bradley said. “They get to see things you wouldn’t see every day.”
A youth organization devoted to changing lives and promoting career success via agricultural education, the FFA employs hands-on experiences to ready members for real-world accomplishment. Former members have gone on to become chemists, veterinarians, government officials, bankers, entrepreneurs, business leaders and teachers.
The FFA is billed as a key component of agricultural education. It has more than 1,027,200 members – between the ages of 12-21 – in each of the 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Thousands of FFA members attend the National Convention & Expo, where they may receive recognition for accomplishments and can compete for national titles.
Bradley, who lives on a farm with his wife, Holly, and their two children, has been involved with the FFA since he was a freshman in high school.
“It was the first class I took in high school,” he said.
Holly also teaches in the program at North Moore. The farm she and Bradley share has been in the family for a long time. The lifestyle definitely comes with benefits.
“For me, it’s being outdoors,” Bradley said. “And I like food. There’s some satisfaction in eating something you produce.”
While the FFA program at North Moore has reached new heights, achieving excellence is a process. The level of enthusiasm grows along the way.
“When they start learning about it, they end up liking it,” Bradley said.
Commitment to the endeavor doesn’t stop at the end of the school year.
“Agriculture teachers are 12-month employees,” Bradley advised.
One duty for summer is the upkeep of facilities at the high school. Bradley and Holly also stay busy working with young people at their church as well as spending time with their own kids.
Feature photo: Kasey Williams (left), Luke Atkins, Gavin Moore, and Braden Sutherland. Photo contributed.
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~Written by Sandhills Sentinel reporter Dave Lukow. Dave has been honored as both a lyricist and screenwriter. Among other publications he’s contributed to are the Buffalo News, JD Journal, Beckett Hockey, Seminole Player’s Life, Poker Pro, Walmart World, and All In.
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