The top two spots in the 2025 Miss FFA Scholarship Pageant were claimed by student leaders at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe.
From a field of 64 contestants, Savannah Griffin was named Miss FFA 2025, and Elizabeth Viseth claimed first runner-up. The pageant, presented by our FFA chapter, was held Friday night, February 28 at the Greenwood 50 Performing Arts Center.
Savannah is a junior at the Governor’s School for Agriculture and hails from Piedmont, S.C. Elizabeth, who makes her home in Edgefield, S.C., also is a junior. They were selected among the 10 finalists after a full day of competition that included afternoon interviews with each contestant.
The evening pageantry included a parade of contestants wearing their official “dress blues,” featuring the iconic blue FFA corduroy jacket. The contestants then segued to evening gowns, and a list of their student achievements was read by the reigning Miss FFA 2024 as each contestant glided across the stage against a backdrop of balloons and giant, lighted FFA block letters.
Upon advancing to the Top 10, Savannah and Elizabeth earned the right to respond to questions drawn from a hat held by the current Mr. FFA, crowned last Friday night in Pendleton.
Elizabeth was asked where she saw agriculture in South Carolina in the next five to 10 years. “I still see agriculture being one of the leading industries in our state,” she said. “However, I believe that agriculture will become more difficult for our farmers as encroaching urban expansion takes arable farmland.”
She added that citizens can support farming by “advocating for better land ordinances to help us keep our farmland for farming.”
In her onstage interview, Savannah was asked how Hurricane Helene affected agriculture in South Carolina, and her response was deeply personal and timely. She spoke to how the massive inland storm impacted the John de la Howe campus.
“Lots of our trees that had been growing for years fell down, along with the community surrounding,” she said. “Fences fell down. Cows were out. Things were crazy.”
Savannah also noted the destruction of the show barn and the greenhouse plants. “This created vulnerability for all of us, but in the end it definitely brought us together,” she concluded.
A large contingent of family and friends from the Governor’s School for Agriculture campus filled the seats at the Greenwood 50 Performing Arts Center to cheer on Savannah and Elizabeth, as well as the other Aggies in the Miss FFA field: Kennedy Keskey, Sara Corn, Emily White, Jackie Oliver, Allie Taylor, Ellie Shaw, Aaliyah Montgomery, Payton Bryan, Kelly Tasch, and Lynzie Hodge.
Congratulations to all our Aggies on a memorable evening.