Dr. Tom Dobbins, state director of the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service, has been named recipient of the John W. Parris Agricultural Leadership Award by the South Carolina Association of Agricultural Educators. The award was presented by Nathan Bellamy of Loris, SC, on behalf of the agricultural educators at a recognition banquet held on the Clemson University campus in July.
A native of Townville, SC, Dr. Dobbins served as president of the SC FFA Organization while at Pendleton High School. He earned an Associate in Agricultural Science degree from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and received a BS in Agricultural Education and a Master’s in Dairy Science from Clemson University. He served as an agricultural education instructor and area Extension agent in dairying before enrolling in Virginia Tech where he was awarded a PhD in Vocational and Technical Education.
Upon graduation from Virginia Tech in 1999, Dr. Dobbins became an assistant professor in Agricultural Education at Clemson and later promoted to professor and chair of the Division of Agriculture, Forestry and Environmental Science before being named director of the Extension Service in 2014.
A nationally recognized leader in Agricultural Education, Dr. Dobbins has been awarded the Honorary State FFA Degree by the SC FFA Association and the Honorary American FFA Degree by the National FFA Organization. He currently serves as chairman of the board of trustees of Anderson School District Four and a director of the SC FFA Foundation.
The John W. Parris Agricultural Leadership Award was established several years ago by the SC Agricultural Educators organization in honor of Parris of Columbia, SC, a graduate of Clemson University and nationally recognized agricultural leader and conservation visionary with more than 55 years of professional service. After retiring from state government as director of the SC Land Resources Commission, Parris served as director of public affairs for Agricultural Education and the FFA in South Carolina for 15 years. The first South Carolinian named to the National Conservation Hall of Fame, Parris was also recipient of the National Professional Conservationist Award, selected Man of the Year in SC Agriculture by the Progressive Farmer magazine, presented the National FFA Organization’s VIP Award and honored as a Centennial Distinguished Agricultural Alumnus by Clemson University.
The SC Agricultural Educators Association is a professional development organization that provides continuous educational leadership opportunities for its members and recognition of outstanding Agricultural Education programs in secondary schools throughout the state.
