FFA Tries to Bring Agricultural Awareness

Future Farmers of America (FFA) coordinated a spirit week on February 19-23, which was done in an attempt to celebrate national FFA week.

The week of February 19-23 falls on this week because it is national FFA week. National FFA week falls on whichever week George Washington’s birthday is every year; which the National FFA Board of Directors decided in 1948.

The national FFA week activities included trivia in the cafeteria, facts being posted in the glass hallway, and the spirit week.

The FFA week planning committee selected the events for the week, this committee consisted of eight members: Alex Davis, Dawson Dehoff, Emma Densmore, Owen Griffith, Lauren Keeny, Hannah Klair, Julia Manifold, and Ashley Miller.

“They [FFA week planning committee] decided on these events based upon prior years, what they were interested in, and what they have heard other FFA chapters do — also thinking about what our student body would enjoy,” said FFA club advisor Abigail Cornett.

The weeks theme days included school club day, blue and gold day, boot and hat day, and America day.

The goal of FFA week was to: “Share with local, state, and national audiences what FFA is and the impact it has on members everyday. National FFA Week is a time for FFA members to host a variety of activities to raise awareness about the role the National FFA Organization plays in the development of agriculture’s future leaders and the importance of agricultural education,” said Cornett.

FFA reporter Hannah Claire elaborated on the purpose of FFA week: “We try to do our best to educate our peers about agriculture and FFA. We may be a rural school district, but you’d be surprised by how many students and faculty are not educated about the agricultural activities that go on around us.”

FFA chapters across the United States worked during National FFA week to spread the word about what FFA is, and what it does as an organization in order to help develop individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in agriculture.

This years FFA week hasn’t been a huge success, with Cornett commenting that: “it probably hasn’t been as great as years prior due to [the] organization of our officers that planned the event. Additionally, it didn’t help that we had one day off. However, I still think that word has gotten out…”

FFA is open for any students who is currently enrolled in an agriculture class. FFA is considered an extension of what is discussed in these agriculture classes because most of the information links between club and classroom.

“The agricultural program here at KD has given me more opportunities than I could ever have imagined so I try to get my peers involved,” Claire said.

Being involved with FFA gives students: “numerous opportunities to help plan FFA events, participate in community service events, social events, fundraisers, competitions, leadership events, and much, much more” says Cornett.

Nationally, FFA has 649,355 active members.