Elissa McLerran of the Hermitage Springs community of Clay County was recently elected as the State Secretary of the Tennessee Future Farmers of America(FFA) during the annual convention held in Gatlinburg March 28 through 30, 2011. Elissa, currently a member of the Tennessee Technological University Collegiate FFA is the first from Clay County High School to be chosen as the state secretary and just the second state officer from the county. Robert Meadows, a 1993 graduate of  of Hermitage Springs High School and current manager of the TN Farmers Co-op in Sevierville, Tn was earlier elected FFA State Sentinel.

Elissa, the 18-year-old daughter of Laura and Tim McLerran was a member of the Hermitage Springs and Clay County High Chapters, and is a member of the Lambda Alpha Sigma Professional Ag Sorority, the TTU Honors Society Freshman Representative, Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers District Secretary, is on the Dean’s List and a recipient of the Rose Scholarship. Elissa was  Valedictorian of the CCHS Class of 2010 and is active in 4-H, church, and has also spoken for the Right to Life Organization, winning awards in local and state contests.  Elissa’s love of agriculture and the environment has been influenced by her grandfather, Ray Clements, a retired agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor.

Clay County students Chris Arms, Dillard Biles, Macey Kendall, and Cheyenne Smith were also recognized at the convention for their maybe we will downplay that too in earning the State FFA degree.