With the new school year on the horizon, teachers and district faculty members are already headed to their respective buildings to prepare for th 2014-15 school year.

The Blue Ridge School District will welcome a new leader for their very successful Future Farmers of America Chapter, or FFA. The district welcomes Kirsten Blackford as their new FFA teacher. Blackford explains she was an intern at the Champaign County Fair for a few years. She officially came on staff at Blue Ridge Schools at the beginning of the month.

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The district announced the hiring of Blackford as their newest FFA Advisor in April and Blackford is looking forward to carrying what she has learned in her time in Champaign County into the classroom and helping high school students.

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Blue Ridge High School's FFA chapter has a long history of producing quality leaders who go on to bigger and better things after their time in the Blue Ridge District. Blackford is looking forward to continuing to mold the young people of the district and notes her impression of the kids in the program is one of high regard.

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Blackford will ask her officers to set goals for themselves and the chapter, and as she continues to meet and communicate with them, she will set goals for herself.

Superintendent of Blue Ridge Schools, Susan Wilson says Blackford will be a wonderful addition to the Blue Ridge High School staff.