FFA members develop leadership skills, gives back to community
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During the November meeting, Tyler Chandler, Daniel Hafner, Kaitlyn Bell, Emily Skaggs and Justin Leavitt participate in the Hungry Man Challenge. The students ate a full Thanksgiving meal blended in a cup. “It was the grossest thing I’ve ever eaten,” Leavitt said. “I probably wouldn’t eat it again.
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At the Ag barn, junior Caleb Corbell and sophomore Allie Hill shear Corbell’s goat. Corbell, who has been in FFA since freshman year, named the goat Bullet after his sister came up with the name. “I like learning how to take care of the animals and how to show them,” Corbell said.
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Jenna Hage hold back her pig
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Meagan Hammond, Luke Sackett, Clay Pennington, Caleb Wilson and Jenna Hage line up for the costume contest at the Halloween party. Sackett and Katie Hebdon dressed as a priest and nun. “Me and my friend wanted to dress as a duo, and we thought it would be fun,” Sackett said.
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After school, freshman Mikayla Vicenik and Agriculture teacher Jacqueline Cole shave Vicenik’s goat in the Ag barn. The FFA students were prepping the animals for an upcoming competition. “I was shaving my goat and getting hair everywhere,” Vicenik said. “It’s my first year in FFA so it was a learning experience and I had a lot of fun.”
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Kylie Benner and Kaitlyn Bell
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Kennie Williams and Maely Jeffcoat
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May 23, 2016
Future Farmers of America allows the opportunity for students to learn more about agriculture, animals and environmental skills.
“I chose to be in FFA because I’m not really interested in playing other sports and stuff,” junior Caleb Wilson said. “I’ve always wanted to be a veterinarian so I wanted to go into something with animals and learn about the animal industry so I went ahead and joined it and it’s been great because it’s almost like a family environment.”
The animals are a big part of FFA and are the reason that some of the students join. Junior Kennie Williams sees the animals as pets for the school.
“FFA is a huge pleasure, students who want to come out and enjoy animals and raise their own little pet at the school and that’s why I like it,” Williams said.
Junior Nick Reale explained that besides the animals, the community is a reason to stay in FFA.
“A lot of us obviously show animals but we also get together and bond and do fun stuff like go main event and have little parties at the school,” Reale said. ”So besides the animals the people the reason I have stayed in it for three years.”
FFA also offers the opportunity to learn many life and leadership skills, including tasks veterinarians do.
“In the class we pretty much learn about vet medicine and how to take care of the animals like I did this year with my goat,” Williams said.
Throughout the year, FFA students found ways to give back to the community. Members cleaned up Cold Springs one weekend, bagging trash and debris.
“I think it was a good way to bond with the chapter and to make a bigger impact on our local community,” sophomore Brooke Fincher said.
In November, the group made goody bags for the homeless, donating toothpaste, soap and deodorant. And in a January meeting, club members decorated and prepped blankets for a retirement home.
“I liked that we made it for the nursing home,” freshman Kadyn Adair said. “[It was fun] spending time with friends while doing it because you got to know people.” The volunteering opportunities helped FFA members bond. “It was fun getting to know the chapter more and making more friends within it,” senior Makayla Sosa said.
