by Emma Bloodworth
Things may look different this year for FFA, but the Minarets FFA Chapter has been busy the past month with numerous donation drives, activities, and their annual National Convention.
The club created two local donation drives for Kases for Kids, an organization that collects lightly used or new travel bags for children who are moving places in foster care. This drive was brought forth by the Minarets ag teachers, with senior Brooklyn Hadjis chairing the activity. Hadjis explained, “This project was not my idea. However, when Ms. Hall brought up Kases for Kids in our leadership class, and what it stood for, I knew I had to be a part of it! I have always carried this desire to help anyone in need and I feel that Kases for Kids is a way I could help make a difference in not one, but multiple foster care kids lives which is why I chose to participate in this project!”
Another donation drive that occurred was chaired by sophomore Jaylin Hogan. The drive was for Naomis House and was made possible as community members donated lightly used or new toiletry items and undergarments for a women’s house which is associated with the Poverello House.
Along with these donations drives, the club hosted a chapter meeting themed around Halloween on Oct. 21. The activities for the meeting was a virtual costume contest as well as a pre-carved pumpkin contest. The winners of the contest included:
1st place - junior Mackenzie Schoonover
2nd place - sophomore Sadie Henderson
3rd place - junior Chloe Robbins
4th place - junior Cody Bebout
5th place - Mikala Taraze
6th place - junior Dustin Chancy
During the week of Oct. 24-27, numerous ag students from our high school attended a first-ever virtual National FFA Convention. Students were able to tune in to learn new advancements and practices in agriculture as well as get to meet and see the new national officers.
The chapter also had three students selected prior to the convention to serve as National Delegates. These students were seniors Emma Bloodworth, Jake Dowell, and junior Lane Sheehan and they voted on very important changes in the organization that will have a lasting impact on the organization as well as approved the report of the new National Officers.
Finally, alumunus Mackenzie Camacho made it to the top three finalists for her Agriscience Project and placed second in the nation in the Natural Resources D5 category.
Minarets FFA has been very active and has many more activities and events planned for the second quarter.