Warsaw’s FFA chapter is 158 members strong. Not everyone joins for the same reason. Most would say they joined to learn more about agriculture, while some joined for the community that surrounds it.
“I joined FFA because I’ve always been interested in agriculture and this looked like the perfect community for me,” senior chapter chaplain Jovi Robertson said.
Freshman Brynlee Wood wanted to expand her knowledge about agriculture by joining FFA.
She said she wanted “to advance my life in agriculture.”
Students get many learning experiences through FFA activities, such as the recent Food for America event held on Oct. 10.
Members signed up to cook or present various agriculture topics to teach about. They had the North and South elementary schools come down to the ag building to learn more about agriculture.
While some members were setting up, others were preparing food for the staff and members. Many members chose things to present, such as pigs, hunting animals, horses, cattle tools, and donkeys.
“I presented cattle tools and medicinal products used on a ranch,” senior chapter president Brayden Henderson stated. Henderson also serves as Area Vice President. “I think it, overall, went great besides some groups being too big to enter the trailer because we had a slight delay because of the storm.”
There are many things to experience in FFA. The two main events people look forward to are National Convention Trip and Barnwarming.
Henderson’s favorite event is, “National Convention because it’s the longest trip I get to go on and there’s always so much to experience.”
This year members traveled to Indianapolis for the convention. They left on Oct. 29 and drove over six hours to get there.
“My favorite FFA event is probably the National Convention. I enjoy traveling and getting to meet so many like-minded people from all over the U.S. and even some of our territories like the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico,” Robertson said.
The FFA dance everyone looks forward to each year is Barnwarming. Each member gets to vote for the boy and girl candidates for their grade. Candidates gain popular votes, money votes, and can earn votes through games to win King and Queen. FFA members can invite student guests to the event, which is scheduled for Nov. 8.
National Convention and Barnwarming are popular FFA events, but the ag classes and FFA organization includes many more things to get involved in.
“My favorite FFA event is when we start judging cattle. I like when me and Hunter Beeler get to go together,” sophomore Cayden Hockett said.
Members love FFA and try to get involved in anything they can.
“I am very involved in FFA. I have gone on the high points trip for the most involved students in FFA the past three years. I am involved in multiple FFA contests, including job interviews, dairy foods, and ag issues. I also attend most leadership meetings and conventions,” Robertson said.
