FFA members from all three Benton County high schools will be celebrating FFA Week from February 15 through February 22.
FFA is the premier youth organization preparing members for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture.
Nationwide, there are 9,235 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are 1,027,273 FFA members.
The National FFA Convention & Expo is one of the largest student conventions in the world with a mission to develop, educate and inspire. Last year there were 72,954 attendees.
The Warsaw FFA Chapter will be celebrating FFA week. Wednesday FFA members will be celebrating with Agriculture Olympics. Members are to wear work clothes and participate during their agriculture class.
Thursday, FFA members will be attending an Agriculture Tour Day. Members should wear FFA shirt and boots.
Friday, FFA members will celebrate Blue and Gold Day and dress in blue and gold.
On Saturday, the public is invited to the FFA Chili supper/auction and the Jeanette Limback Agency Blue Jacket Foundation Trivia competition.
Sunday, FFA members will attend church together then enjoy a fun activity.
Warsaw FFA teachers are Amanda Smith and Jackie Downing.
In Lincoln, FFA members will celebrate their special week by participating in Truck Day on Wednesday. Members are encouraged to drive their trucks to school and represent the brand with a color. Ford – blue; Chevy – orange; Dodge – red; and John Deere – green.
Thursday is Kuntry Club vs. Country Club Day.
Friday is Here by the Ear of Corn – wear a FFA jacket.
Lincoln FFA teacher is Brandi Rath.
In Cole Camp, FFA members will wear camo or hunter’s orange on Wednesday to celebrate FFA Week.
On Thursday, FFA members will observe Tractor Day with a Battle of the Brands!
On Friday, the Cole Camp FFA Chapter will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the chapter with special 75th anniversary shirts. The FFA Labor Auction will also be held on Friday.
Cole Camp FFA teacher is Jake Montemayor.
“Future Farmers of America” was founded by a group of young farmers in 1928. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. They taught that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting – it’s a science, it’s a business and it’s an art. Today, FFA is a dynamic youth organization that changes lives and prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
Today, the National FFA Organization remains committed to the individual student, providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
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Governor Mike Kehoe joined with Missouri Department of Agriculture Chris Chinn and Missouri FFA Leadership to kick off celebrations for National FFA week in Missouri. Governor Kehoe presented a proclamation designating February 15-22 as National FFA week in Missouri.
Cole Camp FFA has a special reason to celebrate as they have just marked their Chapter’s 75th birthday. Looking back at the school’s recorded history it was noted the Cole Camp high School had 150 students by 1940. The school employed six high school teachers and 25 units of credit were being offered.
By the late 1940's, an old army barracks had been purchased and moved behind the school’s gymnasium, (Presently Cole Camp City Hall). A Future Farmers of America Chapter was organized. The founding date was October 1, 1949. There were thirty-seven charter members. Of the thirty-seven, four are still with us. Two of those four served as Chapter Presidents.
One was Milton Von Holton that went on to actually make agriculture a career, earning his living from the land. The other was Frankie Frisch who grew up on a Cole Camp Creek farm but has made his way in Lees Summit as a purveyor of fine jewelry.
Dean Case grew up on an acreage east of Cole Camp and went on to become the town’s barber and followed his calling in his shop that became a favorite hangout for the male population of the town. Last, but not least is Eugene Beckman, raised on a beautiful acreage along Williams Creek, just east of the Union-Williams Church. Gene made a career in banking, retiring from the Citizens-Farmers Bank a few years ago.
The first teacher at the newly formed FFA was Kenneth E. James. The mission of the FFA has always been agricultural leadership, cooperation and citizenship.
Over the years the members have held many, varied fund raisers that have included selling Christmas trees and also marketing fruit sales. Currently the Cole Camp FFA is planning their “Labor Auction” for February 28. That will be held in the old gym and begins at 6:30 PM. According to Jake Montemayor, the current instructor, he has 53 active members enrolled, both male and female. The current President is Colton Thompson.
On Monday, February 17, the chapter hosted a Farmer’s Breakfast in the school cafeteria from 6:00-10:00 AM. Tuesday was Muddy truck/Clean car day.
Wednesday everyone is wearing Camo or Hunter Orange. Thursday is the big day of Drive your tractor to school and on Friday it’s Blue and Gold celebrating 75 years as a Chapter at Benton County R-I.
A special get-together for the members is the area barn warming celebrated at Climax Springs. And no, they don’t elect a Sweetheart Queen and attendants anymore. Now, 75 years later, those little sweethearts are in class with the guys learning how to run a greenhouse, studying animal science or welding on a piece of equipment in the ever evolving world we live in.
