[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 16, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2402-H2403]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN RECOGNITION OF THE PICKETT COUNTY LADY BOBCATS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Rose) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, for many folks I represent in the Upper 
Cumberland Region of Tennessee, this year feels a lot like 1989. That 
is the last time that Pickett County Lady Bobcats were named TSSAA 
girls' basketball State champions.
  They reclaimed that title last month when they defeated the Moore 
County Lady Raiders 56-45 in the class 1A final. The championship, 
Madam Speaker, was a family affair. Lady Bobcats guard Zoe Nicholas now 
joins her aunt and grandmother in having been members of a Pickett 
County State championship team.
  It doesn't stop there. Nicholas' cousin, Callie Reeder, is also on 
the winning team and was even named Tournament Most Valuable Player.
  The coach that led the team to victory, Brent Smith, has a brother 
named Barry, who happened to coach the last winning team 35 years ago.
  It is important to note that, even though this is the first State 
championship in a while, the program does very well every season. It is 
also important to note that, each time the Lady Bobcats have made it 
out of the quarterfinals and advanced to the State championship, they 
have won.
  I congratulate the current champions for keeping that now six-time 
winning streak alive.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to represent Pickett County and many places 
like it that take so much pride in their families, communities, and 
their home team.
  Again, I congratulate the Pickett County Lady Bobcats 2024 TSSAA 
Single A girls' basketball State champions.


    In Recognition of the 2024-2025 Tennessee FFA State Officer Team

  Mr. ROSE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and recognize 
the 2024-2025 Tennessee Future Farmers of America State Officer team.

[[Page H2403]]

  I commend FFA for all it does to support our Nation's young people 
and the many ways it has helped produce some of our Nation's best and 
brightest.
  For countless elected officials, including me, FFA is where it all 
started. It is where we began honing leadership skills, learning ways 
to meet challenges, big and small, and seeing the value of hard work.

                              {time}  1015

  The experiences FFA students are afforded in those few short years 
will continue to matter to them throughout their lives.
  Serving in an officer role can be transformative. I know because I 
had the chance to be one myself. I was elected FFA president of my 
local chapter in Cookeville, Tennessee, in 1982. The following year, I 
was fortunate enough to be elected Middle Tennessee State vice 
president.
  My time as an FFA State officer taught me tremendous lessons I am 
proud to hold on to until this very day. I still keep two of my FFA 
blue corduroy jackets in framed cases on my office wall as a reminder 
of the lessons learned from that experience.
  I say all of this to send a message to FFA students everywhere: 
Living to serve isn't just part of the FFA motto; it is a lifestyle.
  I congratulate the newly elected Tennessee FFA State officers: T. 
Wayne Williams, State president; Emily Whitehead, East Tennessee State 
vice president; Skylar Baird, Middle Tennessee State vice president; 
Sarah Ault, West Tennessee State vice president; Shelbi Wallace, State 
secretary; Eli Julian, treasurer; Paige Pardue, reporter; and Lexi 
Rush, sentinel.
  FFA chapters across Tennessee are preparing student leaders for big 
things. In fact, it is those chapter officers and this slate of State 
officers that give me so much hope for the future of our State.
  Madam Speaker and Members of Congress, please join me in recognizing 
the newly elected Tennessee FFA State officers. I congratulate each of 
them.

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