FFA End of Year Events and Activities

As summer approaches, Future Farmers of America (FFA), a student-run Jordan club, is going out with a bang. As Adriel Hernandez Rivas, an FFA Officer who won in the Spanish Creed section at a state-wide FFA competition last year, puts it, “FFA offers members the opportunity to participate in a wide range of competitions.” He explains that there are many categories that FFA students can compete in, including “tractor driving, veterinary science, Envirothon, floriculture, poultry evaluation, and food science.” Take a look at FFA’s end of year activities and see what these students are up to now.

• May Chapter Meeting: Everyone is welcome to come to FFA’s monthly chapter meeting on May 8th! Both members and non-members are invited and there will be snacks. According to Megan Ashley, an FFA Officer at Jordan, “we will be creating flower arrangements to use as centerpieces for our upcoming banquet. Join us to learn how to create a bouquet!” 

• Banquet: Jordan students should mark their calendars because the annual FFA end-of-year awards banquet is on May 16th this year! The purpose of the banquet is to share and celebrate the achievements of FFA members and their supporters. Jordan FFA President Lila Christie explains that at the banquet, members are honored with “FFA awards and degrees,” and students “involved in competitions and agricultural experiences” are recognized. Additionally, the officer positions for the next year are announced at this event. An RSVP link for this year’s banquet can be found in the bio of the FFA Instagram account, @jordanhighffa.

• End of the Goat Project: FFA students worked hard to raise a group of goats, starting in January, which they showed on April 9th at the Central Piedmont Junior Livestock Show, a local competition. Abby Younts, an FFA Junior Officer, explained that “students participated in meat market and showmanship competitions, where they walked and braced their goat.” Even though the goats were prone to antics, such as escaping from their pen, raising them was an enjoyable experience for students!

• Plant Sales: Every school year, students in Horticulture classes use the school greenhouse to grow and care for plants. “After the plants have begun to grow, we sell them during our annual plant sales,” explains Zie Hatley, an FFA Officer and Horticulture student. In the fall, poinsettias and other cool weather plants were available for purchase, and now that it’s spring, there are warm weather plants. Zie reports that “all sales of the plants go directly back to our school’s FFA chapter, as well as our agriculture program,” so be sure to support fellow falcons by buying some plants this spring at the next plant sale on May 3rd!

• Applications for Degrees: FFA members are currently in the process of applying for degrees, which are awards that celebrate FFA members and their accomplishments throughout the year. According to Mckenna Zentz, an FFA Officer at Jordan, these degrees are meant to honor the accomplishments of FFA students who have done agriculturally related projects. “Some examples of these projects are raising goats on campus, taking care of our courtyard chickens, and tending to the greenhouse,” Mckenna explains. “Members are able to apply for the Greenhand Degree after their first year of membership, and then for the Chapter Degree the year after.” 

Even though FFA is wrapping up some activities and preparing for next year, FFA Officer Olivia Ko explains that the goal is to keep FFA members engaged this summer. According to Olivia, there are “a variety of CDE camps, farm tours, and other opportunities” over the summer. More information about this will be coming out soon, so stay tuned by following the FFA Instagram.