Council FFA: Busy and Working Hard
This year, Council FFA members have been actively competing in multiple Career Development Events (CDEs), including soils, agronomy, and dairy judging. Our dairy judging team performed exceptionally well and has advanced to compete at the state level. We are proud of the dedication and preparation our students have shown through these competitive events, which emphasize both technical agricultural knowledge and teamwork.
Our younger members have also seen success. Freshmen from our chapter competed in the Best Informed Greenhand contest and performed very well at the district level. In addition, chapter member Susan Mendenhall earned a tie for third place in District Creed Speaking last December
Beyond competitions, many of our members have participated in leadership development conferences throughout the year. Later this month, students will attend the Gem State Leadership Conference, where they will take part in team-building activities, leadership development sessions, and agricultural advocacy training. Some members will also participate in the Legislative Lunch-In, providing them the opportunity to meet with Idaho legislators and learn more about the legislative process and agricultural policy.
Our chapter has remained extremely active locally as well. Members have been fundraising, planning events, and engaging the community, with our officer team successfully organizing at least one chapter activity each month of the school year. We have seen strong participation from both returning members and new students.
On the program side, our agricultural shop was recently awarded a $36,550 grant for a Miller Augmented Arc Welding System. This technology will allow students to safely train and practice a variety of welding techniques while reducing consumable costs. It will also expand opportunities for community outreach and demonstrations at local events.
In addition, our greenhouse program is reestablishing a vital grant partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to support our Native Plant Growth Project. Council FFA has a long-standing history of supporting the Forest Service, and this grant will help ensure the continued success of this important program.
Looking ahead, our students are preparing for additional competitions such as floral judging and agricultural mechanics, as well as the State Leadership Conference in April. We plan to bring a large group of students and compete across multiple events.
We are incredibly proud of the work our students are doing and the positive impact they are making in our school and community.
