Chapter Highlights: Fort Sumner FFA
Donkeys and basketball—an unlikely duo in most cases. For the Fort Sumner and Santa Rosa FFA Chapters, however; donkeys and basketball provide for a rather unique sport. In the matchup of the century, Fort Sumner FFA played the Santa Rosa Chapter in an ultra-competitive donkey basketball tournament. Joining the tournament was also the local police and fire departments, raising the stakes even higher. “It was so amusing to watch and everyone there was laughing and cheering for their team,” says chapter Chaplain Abby Ward. “My favorite part of all of it was that the Fort Sumner FFA Chapter was going into this tournament not knowing what to expect and they showed out and won the whole tournament.”
Speaking of showing out, Fort Sumner harnessed success at the National FFA Convention last October. The chapter took 8 kids from the state champion Meats Evaluation and Quiz Bowl teams. The Meats Evaluation team took 22nd place in the nation, ranking silver as a team, and defining the months of work that went into preparing well worth it. Chapter Vice President Beau Wall praises the Quiz Bowl team, stating, “Having such a high leadership opportunity as a younger member is one of the biggest factors in promoting growth for the chapter.”
When Fort Sumner isn’t competing, they are spreading positivity in their community. Last Christmas, members created an “angel tree.” “For the angel tree, members take a tag off of the tree and buy the gift written on the tag to be given to someone less fortunate,” explains Vice President Beau Wall. “This is a great way for members to come together and contribute in a really special way. I think the biggest impact is made when everyone steps in to help,” she says. Fort Sumner FFA hopes to make a difference in their community, reflecting the core values the organization has taught them.
If we take a step into the shop class, you would see the hard work that goes behind making something great. This year, members in the metal shop worked together to build a 16-foot-long gooseneck trailer. A large endeavor, the build has spanned months, starting in November last year. While some members may not be as enticed in the competitive side of FFA, they can still contribute in a real way. “It’s a good way to get the kids in our chapter involved,” remarks chapter Sentinel Allie Sleep when reflecting on the commitment members had when constructing the trailer. Featured below is the evolution the trailer construction has seen, from the beginning to where it was at in the most recent update.
As Fort Sumner FFA grows stronger in both its community and student impact, members hope to encourage younger kids to lead a productive life in the agriculture industry. In a collaborative effort, FFA and 4H put on Ag Day. During Ag Day, “stations are set up outside [the school] where elementary kids get assigned a station to learn about CDEs and other agriculture related topics,” says chapter Sentinel Allie Sleep. “It gets them exposed to agriculture as a whole.” Allie recognizes the importance of implementing agriculture and agricultural knowledge into kids’ lives. “Coming from a smaller rural community and getting to see and appreciate firsthand what agriculture is about has taught me to have the appreciation for all that agriculture produces,” she says. The Chapter’s hard work has paid off. “6 years ago, there was just 19 members in the chapter. Now, we average over 50 each year,” says Ag Teacher Mr. Metzger.
The Fort Sumner FFA Chapter has been characterized by its determination to instill in the next generation a passion for FFA, agriculture, and growth. “Agriculture brings everybody together,” concludes chapter President Hattie Norman. “A future worth looking forward to is only possible if members, the community, and everyone else will come together to serve a greater purpose.” When asked to choose a word that best describes the chapter, the Chapter Officers chose the word “inspiring.”