Article written and submitted by Will Smith 23-24 Racine Southern FFA Reporter
National FFA Week is Feb 17-24 and it is a meaningful week for members across our country as we celebrate an organization that is welcoming to all and crucial to developing the next generation of leaders and those who will fill the ever-growing need in the talent pipeline. There are lots of ways to recognize National FFA Week, including posting on social media and showing your gratitude to others. National FFA Week is a meaningful week for members across our country as we celebrate an organization that is welcoming to all and crucial to developing the next generation of leaders and those who will fill the ever-growing need in the talent pipeline. Take a look, what our chapter did for festivities:
Monday, February 19th - Presidents Day
We hosted a draw your best tractor contest for Head Start - 6th grade, with one winner from each grade winning a free ice cream.
Tuesday, February 20th - Began with “Drive Your Tractor to School”, where students were allowed to drive their tractor to school, big thanks to the Meigs County Sheriff Office for helping coordinate this with us and ensure the safety of our students. We held a pep rally later in the day--Ag Olympics for grades 7th-12th, games included: tug of war, feed sack race, hay bale stacking and nail driving. All together the class of 2028 won the most challenges and will get their class engraved on the traveling trophy. Ohio FFA Reporter Kaydence Morris visited each ag class and conducted leadership type lessons with our students. Finally pop tabs were collected from each grade level, the grade with the most pop tabs won a prize. Congratulations to the 3rd grade class for collecting the most tabs. The tabs will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House this spring.
Officer team during ag olympics with State FFA Officer Class of 2028 With their trophy
Wednesday, February 21st ; Students dressed for ‘Merica and paid $1 to wear a ha. The money raised will all be donated to the Meigs County Dog Shelter. Ag students will make dog toys throughout the day that will also be donated to the dog shelter.
Thursday, February 22nd - Anything but a backpack, students could carry around anything but a backpack as long as it fits in your locker ex. Seen, tool box, bucket, fanny pack. FFA Members went down to the 3rd grade for Ag in the classroom - lessons included: How to make ice cream and learned about the dairy industry, soil layers using cereal, and the percent of earth we have left on earth to use for farming and we ask them how we could improvise ways to grow plants, and building structurally sound barns using noodles and marshmellows. Finally the tractor drawing contest was all submitted and a winner from each elementary grade level was chosen for drawing the best tractor and won a free ice cream.
Racine FFA Members with 3rd graders
Friday, February 23rd; Staff appreciation day - We made and delivered National Blue and Corn Gold energy teas to show our appreciation to all of the staff at Southern. Students dressed in National Blue/Corn Gold/FFA for this day.
As we conclude this week of celebrating FFA, I can't help but be filled with gratitude for not only what it has given to our friends from the FFA but what it has done for the millions of young people over the years and also the impact it has had on the growth and development of our country's agriculture. Many of the new technologies and innovations have been influenced by members of the FFA. So, thank you FFA, for keeping America great!!