SF FFA Celebrates FFA Week

Submitted by deon.youd on

Members of Spanish Fork FFA celebrated National FFA Week last week by planning daily activities such as reading to elementary school students, cleaning up around the school and visiting the Veteran’s Home. Members and students were given a punch card and encouraged to participate each day with completers being put in a drawing for $50.

They started the week off by decorating the school with agricultural and FFA coloring pages. On Tuesday a group of 12 members visited Spanish Oaks Elementary and read agricultural children’s books to a third grade class. They visited with the students about activities they participate in and encouraged them to participate and learn about agriculture. Some of the third graders even showed off their reading skills to the high school students!

On Wednesday, FFA members met after school, put on their plastic gloves, picked up a garbage bag and went to work cleaning up the school’s campus. “There were a lot of straws everywhere,” says sophomore member Gavin Jensen, “that was the bulk of what I picked up.” Students found that there was a lot more trash around the school than they usually noticed in their day to day activities, and most realized that even a little bit of garbage that seems meaningless can make a big difference in the appearance of the school’s campus.

FFA members served lunch to their teachers and then headed to the Veteran’s Home in Payson after school on Thursday. There, they had the opportunity to visit with men and women who have served our country and defended our freedom. They visited with veterans who told stories of spies and conspiracies and how the war had impacted them. They also enjoyed hearing about some of the veteran’s life’s work after the war. They learned about their careers as electricians and county extension agents, and even got to hear some of their love stories. “Lloyd’s story was like the notebook,” says Taylor Tomadakis, speaking of one of the veterans. “His wife comes and reads books to him and he starts to remember and laugh about the past.” Tori Rucker added, “His story is so cool. He was shot and laid on a beach for two days during the war before they found him.”  Along with Tori and Taylor, Kaitlin Hallam described Lloyd as a miracle. “He’s had so many things happen that could have taken his life. He is definitely meant to be here.” Members ended their visit by sitting around World War II veterans who detailed their experiences and taught them about the past. Students felt like the opportunity gave them a better perspective on life and some plan to go back to the Veteran’s Home to volunteer on a regular basis.

The FFA Week celebration ended with an “FFA Rock Star” competition, which ended up being a fun activity where students competed against each other playing Guitar Hero, Just Dance and Mario Kart. Students who participated every day of FFA Week had their names put into a drawing for cash prizes of $10, $30, and $50. Throughout the week student were successful in raising awareness about the importance of agriculture and took advantage of the leadership and service opportunities available in the FFA.

 

Attributions
Lena Baadsgaard