Friday, March 29, 2024

Manson Future Farmers of America filled with year round activities

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MANSON – It is National Future Farmers of America (FFA) week and the Manson School District FFA is ready to celebrate. FFA students and the rest of their peers will participate in different activities throughout the week.

Each year the students come up with the activities for the week. It has become a tradition for first-year members to get their hand dyed green on “Green Hand Initiation Day.” The following day one person from each class will participate in a Hot Wing Eating Contest. On Thursday, four representatives from each class will race during the Hotdog and Marshmallow Relay. The celebrations will wrap up with the yearly BBQ during lunch time.

FFA President Blake Cochran and the rest of the FFA officers will be part of the week’s activities and will make sure they run smoothly. Cochran stated that they are most excited about the food race relay. If the competition gets tight, they will determine the winner by time. The activities are intended for everyone to come together and have fun.

FFA advisor Kevin Amsden explained that all students who are enrolled in his classes are eligible to be an FFA member. At the moment 25 to 30 students out of the 55 are active members of FFA, “last year we had a bunch of seniors graduated so we are down a little bit, but we have four, five new kids this year,” he said.

Throughout the year, FFA members and advisor participate in an array of activities. They do the Chelan County Fair, District and State Apple judging, travel to Spokane for the Ag Expo and do a Leadership Contest, to name only a few.

The Leadership Contest consists of giving speeches and doing job interviews, this is something they enjoy the most because it is a real-life experience and it prepares them for the future.

Preparations for Apple Judging began almost two months in advance, the kids and Amsden meet after or during lunchtime to practice identifying different apple varieties, bugs, learn about pesticides test and grade apples.  In the 2018 competition, Manson placed 11th with all freshmen and sophomores.

At the Chelan County Fair, Manson was able to place third overall right behind Chelan High School.

Amsden is preparing the list of animals the kids will need for the fair coming up again. “In April they will get their sheep and goats, in May they get their pigs.” Those kids with steers have had them since November.

“It’s almost a whole year process, the day after the fair is over, I try to order and estimate what we are going to need for the fair next year,” Amsden stated.

Opportunities such as these ones, allow the kids to have great educational experiences. “They build confidence and knowledge.”

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Manson has officially formed its very own FFA Alumni Association. Back in November, Marty Cochran started the association in order to receive funds from the Chelan Valley Fieldsmen’s Association. The money goes to support FFA kids through projects and other needs. Members meet every first Thursday of every month at Manson Growers starting at 7 p.m. Everyone who is willing to help and support Manson FFA kids is welcomed to attend. You don’t have to be a former FFA member to participate. For more information contact the Manson FFA advisor Kevin Amsden (509)687-6109.

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