Local Chapter Celebrates FFA Week

The Chinook Chapter of the FFA celebrated FFA Week from May 6-9.

Observed annually across the country in February, National FFA Week is a time for FFA members to raise awareness about the importance of agricultural education and the National FFA Organization's role in developing future leaders in agriculture. The local Chapter held a series of dress-up days and activities to bring recognition to the agriculture industry and to those who work in related occupations.

Monday was Drive Your Tractor to School Day, and students were encouraged to wear colors that corresponded with their favorite tractor brand. A few students drove traditional tractors, but School Counsellor, Mrs. Fay Friede represented the trucking industry by driving her son Shane's purple Peterbilt. "I only drove from Kade's house (my Grandma Max's house) to the school. My understanding was that both sides of the street would be available for parking, south of the school. When I got here, the south side was full, so I had to keep driving straight on Ohio in front of the school. Koleman Anderson was outside and signaled for the horn, so I happily obliged, as any good trucker would. Anyway, I did end up driving farther than planned and parked where the buses usually park. Miss Kellam was riding shotgun, so I had a partner in crime."

Tuesday saw a few students and teachers dressing in camouflage for Wear Your Camo/Orange day. Wednesday was Hawaiian/Beach Day, and Thursday was Wear Your Blue and Gold.

According to Chapter Advisor, Mrs. Mitzi Cecrle, the week's events not only serve as a recruitment tool but enable the Chapter to celebrate FFA Week while Montana's weather is more cooperative.

"National FFA Week is in the middle of our coldest weather in Montana, so we decided to move our local events and celebration to May when we could be outdoors. Who knew that the rain would dampen our plans?" Cecrle said.

Because of the rain on Monday, May 6, several of the Chinook FFA Officers spent fifth period setting up for a series of workshops so that fifth and sixth graders from Meadowlark Elementary School could engage with various agricultural-related activities. The young students moved through four different stations.

Among the activities that were scheduled for outside but had to be moved indoors was a roping seminar conducted by Ashlyn Hofeldt, Oliver Standiford, and Bryce Elliot. The trio set up their steer bale dummies in the Lloyd D. Sweet Auditorium, where students learned to throw a rope. Another station, a branding workshop hosted by Madilyn Gruszie and Falyn Cecrle, took place in the shop, where the fifth and sixth graders used electric branding irons to burn their initials or their own livestock brands onto a pallet section.

The shop was also the venue for a session on tractor safety, conducted by Ben Hofeldt and Jacob Metcalf. Because some students had driven their tractors to school that day, the group was able to learn these safety drills using actual machinery. One of the tractors was a 1066 Farmall driven by Kenneth Gruszie.

Finally, to help the young people learn about the Earth's five different soil layers, also called soil horizons, Aislinn Handy and Wylie Simenson held a hands-on demonstration in the Ag classroom. Using edibles, the pair explained that different soil layers each have a distinct profile with their own nutrients and chemical composition. Participants used chocolate and butterscotch chips to represent the soil's bedrock, or bottom layer. For the lower-middle or subsoil layer, they utilized chocolate ice cream. Next, to capture the upper-middle or topsoil layer, the students added crushed Oreo cookies. Then, to top off that layer, they added a couple of gummy worms and a sprinkling of miniature marshmallows to serve as the organic material or humus at the surface level. The dirt cups were then consumed.

On Wednesday, May 8, Meadowlark Elementary students dressed up as farm animals. Because Mrs. Amanda Davies' third grade class had the greatest number of students participating, that group earned the opportunity to eat pizza with the FFA Officers on Thursday during lunch.

In a final show of solidarity and to fly their colors, FFA members wore their official dress on Thursday. Mrs. Cecrle expressed pride in her group's accomplishments by saying, "This year was full of new achievements, exciting challenges, lots of hard work, hours of studying and practicing, and tons of preparation for many different projects. I couldn't be prouder of how well the members and officers came together to accomplish many of their inspiring goals. From the new members to the seniors, they have all made this year a very memorable one."