MAY – To commemorate National FFA Week, and hopefully recruit new members in the coming years, the May FFA hosted its “A Walk in the Life of an FFA Member” event Friday for Pre-K students and up.
“This week is National FFA Week and I decided to make the hard decision to pull back and not do livestock judging and cotton judging this year because of the virus and several other factors like quarantines, softball and baseball,” said May ag teacher Codi Perkins. “It’s just been challenging year for everybody and with that being said we didn’t have too much going on this week so I thought what better way to celebrate National FFA Week than to try to get some of our youngsters involved and curious about the program. We’re doing a little tour and explaining to some of the younger kiddos what FFA is and they’re going to get to see all the things they get to do if they join FFA.”
Those who attended the event received information about Career Development Events (CDEs), Leadership Development Events (LDEs) and Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs).
“There’s three bigger components of FFA,” Perkins said. “The CDEs happen in the spring and those are judging, identification type things, and they prepare students for a career in agriculture whether it be in marketing or judging livestock for the USDA. LDEs develop leadership skills and include things like speaking events, there’s a quiz, and different types of things and we had some success in that this year. SAEs include internships, stock shows, ag mechanics, just different hands-on projects for kiddos to gain experience.”
Members of the May FFA were at a variety of stations offering their respective on FFA and the positive effects it has on students.
“The most important thing about the FFA is you don’t have to be a country kid to be part of a family,” said Johnna Maultsby. “You don’t have to live on a farm or have livestock or show livestock. I participate in the baking part of the youth fair, I don’t show an animal, but it’s still a big family and everyone loves you and supports you. You’re always welcome. You just have to put a foot in the door and do it.”
Hayden King added, “For most people it’s about tradition. Either your dad was in FFA, your brother was in FFA, or your uncle was in FFA and it’s kind of a tradition you want to follow and uphold from what you’ve watched all your life. When you come of age where you can join FFA it’s the thing to do. Once you get into it you learn so many skills that help you get through school, get through life, and get through a job when you get older. There is no better place to be than in FFA.”
The tour of the stations ended with a petting zoo, which was particularly a hit with the Pre-K students.
“They got to pet and see real animals that have participated in livestock shows this year or are going to continue to participate in livestock shows this year,” Perkins said. “They get to see those projects and maybe that will encourage them to participate in that side of FFA as well.”
