Down in South Georgia, something exciting is happening after dark.
Brayden Pilkenton, a young man who spends his days in farm life, is now lighting up the night—teaching a welding class at Southern Georgia Technical. But this is no ordinary class. This is part of his bigger story: One that includes cattle herds and national recognition.
While home from college, you can find Pilkenton helping his future in-laws cut grass and fix lawnmowers or even helping local cattle farmers haul cows and move cattle across state lines. He knows the practical side of agriculture—where work gets done under the Georgia sun and where every tool and fence matters.
When evening rolls around, he trades in his overalls for welding gear. In the night class, he teaches safety, metal joining techniques, fabrication, and how to turn raw steel into useful farm equipment. His students aren’t just learning abstract skills—they’re learning tools they might use in their backyards or future careers.
His dual roles as farmer and instructor make him a walking bridge between agriculture and technical education. Students see how what they learn in the welding booth can directly affect their lives: fixing fences, repairing trailers, building metal gates, or even starting their side jobs.
This young man’s ambition didn’t stay local. He applied his leadership, passion and hard work to the FFA stage—and it paid off. At the National FFA Convention & Expo, Pilkenton will receive his American FFA Degree, the highest degree awarded to members who have shown excellence in leadership, grown their agricultural operations, and completed rigorous requirements in FFA.
His cattle operation was central to earning the degree. His dedication to raising and managing livestock—coupled with community service, leadership in FFA chapters, and career development—helped him reach this level of excellence. When he walks across the stage at national convention, it will not just be a personal triumph. It will be a symbol for everyone he teaches at night, and even those who taught him what he knows.
The night welding class is already making waves in the local FFA community. Students who once thought technical trades were beyond their reach and just a dream now see a path forward and a reality. Those who balance farm chores and schoolwork can attend class after dinner.
Pilkenton is more than a night teacher—he’s a mentor. He shows students not just how to weld, but how to connect skills with purpose and how to turn interests into income.
And his story is still unfolding. With his American FFA Degree within reach, he continues to expand his cattle operation, grow his welding outreach, and inspire others to lead. He’s proving that rural life, agriculture, and technical education don’t just belong together—they thrive together.
If you drive through South Georgia at night and see sparks flying in a welding shop, you just might be passing someone building a brighter future for themselves—and for everyone who follows in their trail of sparks.
