THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994 TAG: 9406010115
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940602 LENGTH: SUFFOLK
And he gives his grandfather, James Carr, of Suffolk, the credit for his early focus on a career.
{REST} ``My grandfather was a father figure and a good influence,'' Brinkley said. ``When I was small, he talked to me about setting goals.''
Brinkley, 17, took his grandfather's advice and decided early on to seek a career as a wildlife biologist.
He enrolled in the agriculture program at Lakeland and joined the Future Farmers of America in the ninth grade.
An honor student, he plans to major in wildlife biology and minor in forestry at Virginia Tech in the fall.
``What drew me to the agriculture program at Lakeland was wildlife,'' Brinkley said. ``I wanted to learn about wildlife, soil, trees, the whole environment.
``I realize how the population is growing and how the wildlife population is decreasing. I want to play a part in helping the animals make a comeback.
``We've finally realized how important wetlands are,'' Brinkley said. ``They are valuable to wildlife, but valuable to us, too. A watershed or piece of land that's able to drain water properly stops pollution by constantly recycling water.''
In light of his accomplishments in the agriculture program, academics and extracurricular activities, Brinkley was recently selected as the Vocational Student of the Year for 1993-94.
The award is given annually to a Suffolk high school senior who has exhibited outstanding achievement in a vocational education program. Selection is based on scholarship, recommendations, written expression and demonstrated leadership.
The Vocational Education Advisory Council sponsors the award, which includes a $500 cash gift from Allied Colloids Inc. Brinkley was honored at the council's May 19 luncheon.
Ronald Daughtrey, who sponsors the future farmers group and teaches agriculture at Lakeland, said Brinkley is serious ``about performing quality work.''
A Suffolk native, Brinkley is the son of Catherine Brinkley of Turlington Road.
He has served as historian, sentinel, reporter and leadership conference officer for the FFA and was a representative to the 1993 FFA national convention in Kansas City.
Brinkley does not live on a farm. But he has worked summers at the Pine Pasture Farm on U.S. Route 460. ``I worked two to three days a week,'' he said. ``I cut grass, tended a vegetable garden, mended fences and kept the animals inside the fences.''
FFA members may enter up to 29 contests and activities annually, Brinkley said. He keeps a record book on how much work he has accomplished, the number of hours he worked and the amount of money he earned.
``I've made about $2,000,'' he said. ``But some of the work may be free, such as cutting the grass for Mom.''
Recently, Brinkley submitted his record book to the FFA for judging in an efficiency contest.
Agriculture has come a long way in recent years, Brinkley said. The program at Lakeland teaches business management and marketing in the third and fourth years of study.
``Way back, farmers had a horse and mule,'' he said. ``Now, there is a monitor that can be set up in a tractor that receives messages from a satellite. It can tell of a particular area in a field that needs to be sprayed with a pesticide.''
Brinkley has been a science fair winner at Lakeland. He also is a member of the Beta Club, the school newspaper staff, the Quill & Scroll journalism honor society and the Interact Club.
``I've written a lot of articles for the newspaper about what we were doing in agriculture class, but my main job is on the layout staff,'' he said.
An active member of the youth league at the Western Branch Baptist Church, Brinkley helps clean the church and plays on the church softball league.
After completing his studies at Virginia Tech, Brinkley said he hopes to improve the environment by working for the state.
``I know I can't do all this on my own, but one person helping leads to another,'' he said. ``Someone has to make a difference . . . and help the planet become a better place for us and our children to live.''
by CNB