On the Edge of Common Sense

Here

By The Owl

A while back I was asked who has had the greatest influence on my life. I hadn’t ever given it much thought, like most folks, I guess. After considerin’ for a while I came up with six people that I could say actually affected the direction of my thinkin’. My dad, Doc Brimhall, John Basabe, Red Steagall, Patrick Gottsch and Rupert Mansell.

Mr. Mansell was my vo-ag teacher in Las Cruces, New Mexico from 1961-1962. “Here by the owl. The owl is the symbol of wisdom ....” It’s hard for a 16-yearold kid to evaluate wisdom. I remember Rupert, as we referred to him behind his back, tryin’ to teach that rag tag bunch of boys anything (it was all boys back then). Lots of us really didn’t have much in the way of money. Our projects included four or five scraggly sheep, or a couple of steers, some pecan trees, rabbits or whatever. Sure, there were a few boys whose folks were good farmers and had impressive projects but most of us didn’t. Rupert treated us all the same.

What we all had was a love of agriculture and the optimism of youth. That was what Rupert had to work with. He taught us that dirt was under your fingernails and soil was what you tilled. He tried, often in vain, to teach us how to weld and work on machinery. How to block sheep, fit a steer, castrate a hog and how to tell a rib steak from a chuck. It was not until much later that I came to realize how much a vo-ag teacher has to know.

I said Rupert treated everybody the same. That’s not quite true since he made me feel like I was special. But, if the truth were known, he probably made each one of us feel that way.

He wasn’t impressed by politics; so when we decided to invite the governor to be the speaker at our local FFA banquet he said to go ahead but don’t advertise it in case the “guv” didn’t show. We sent out invitations to all the school board, principal and other dignitaries. Most declined; they had other things to do. The day before the banquet the governor confirmed. It came out in the paper. Suddenly the local dignitaries were calling trying to get tickets. Overnight they had developed a sincere interest in the Future Farmers. It was one of Rupert’s finest hours.

For all you dedicated vo-ag teachers, I salute you, but I remind you that you are in the position to shape young people’s lives. It is no small responsibility. And to Mr. Mansell, who has since passed, from all of us ex-reporters, vice presidents, greenhands, secretaries, state farmers, soil judges, blacks, browns and whites; if we ever amount to anything, you had a hand in it. Yep, you. There by the owl. www.baxterblack.com

East Elementary Joins the Clean Campus Program

East Elementary is a beautiful school with a rich history, located in the historical area of Cullman, Alabama. The teachers and staff, led by Principal David Wiggins, understand the importance of teaching East Elementary’s second- through sixth- grade students how to take care of their campus. For years, East Elementary has participated in Alabama PALS’s Clean Campus Program. This year they claimed third place in the statewide clean campus scrapbook contest and were awarded a $500 scholarship for their efforts. Clean Campus sponsor Mrs. April Dean, nicknamed “Clean Dean,” attributes their success to the entire East Elementary community comprised of school administration, teachers, students and parents, who enthusiastically pitch in with the Clean Campus effort. This year, Mrs. Dean organized a Halloween Recycled Cardboard Challenge in which students created haunted houses, costume props and even socially distant candy distributors – all from recycled cardboard. At Thanksgiving, East Elementary fourth-graders studied the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, created their own floats from recycled materials, and held a parade for students and parents to come and watch.

East Elementary’s Clean Campus Program encourages students to not only recycle plastic bottles, aluminum and paper but also more unusual items like crayons, markers and grocery sacks. This year, they are holding a Clean Campus fundraiser with recycled crayons that students have melted and molded into new crayons shaped like hearts, pineapples and even Legos. These new and improved crayons will be sold for 50 cents each, and funds will be contributed to furthering East Elementary’s Clean Campus Program.

Great job, East Elementary, on your work with the Clean Campus Program! If a school near you would like to learn more about the Clean Campus Program, please have them give me a call at 334-263-7737 or email at jamie@alpals.org. We would love to work with your local schools to create an even more beautiful Alabama!

PB&Jto the Rescue

Alabama Peanut Producers (APPA) donated 20 peanut butter cases to Geneva and Coffee County 4-H. From left to right: Jesse Scott, APPA Board Member and Geneva County peanut producer; Milisa Dunn, Geneva County Extension Administrative Assistant; Madison Tew, Geneva and Coffee County 4-H Agent; Gloria Marks, Geneva County Extension Coordinator; and Jimmy Helms, APPA Board Member and Geneva County peanut producer.

In early 2020, as COVID-19 swept across the United States, thousands of businesses closed and employees lost their jobs, bringing on an economic recession. Families struggled, and food insecurity increased, as so many more now had limited financial resources. Food Banks saw a record number of people needing help.

As 4-H’ers in the Wiregrass Region looked for ways to serve their communities during the pandemic, they saw the needs of their local communities and realized that food banks and food pantries needed more help. The members wanted to highlight an agricultural product from this area that could help with food shortages. Since over half the peanuts grown in

Laura Brown brings the donations from Phi Mu of Troy University for the Pike County 4-H Peanut Butter and Jelly Food Drive.

the United States are grown in this Wiregrass region, a peanut product seemed the natural choice. And what do kids love that’s made with peanuts? Peanut butter! And what goes best with peanut butter? Jelly!

Peanut butter is a great source of protein, and it is also a sustainable food item that will last for a long time on food bank shelves. Jars of peanut butter and jelly would also be easy for 4-H’ers to collect, so the 4-H Youth Councils decided to work together to do a “Peanut Butter & Jelly Drive.”

“It was an opportunity for our 4-H kids to impact their own communities,” said Katie Lee, 4-H Foundation Regional Extension Agent from Covington County. “This was a community service project that the Wiregrass Region could work on together!”

During February, the 10 Southeast Alabama counties collected jars of peanut butter and jelly. Even though each 4-H group approached the project differently, the students were amazed at the support they got from their individual communities. For example, the Alabama Peanut Producers Association saw an ad on TV and made a huge donation of peanut butter to Dale, Houston, Henry, Geneva, Covington and Coffee counties. Sororities and fraternities at Troy University pitched in to help. One Sonic restaurant in Eufaula saw a Facebook post and asked their customers to chip in. Schools, churches and other local businesses throughout the area joined in. When the project ended, 4-H’ers were able to distribute 3,422 jars of peanut butter and jelly to their local food banks.

“This was a fun project for all of our 4-H’ers,” Katie Lee stated. “We are so proud of how well it has taken off, especially since the kids could see the benefits in their own hometowns.”

Haley Solorzano and Emily Porterfield of the Eufaula Sonic saw a Facebook post about the Barbour County 4-H PB&J Food Drive. Their manager contacted Jill Wachs, Barbour County 4-H Agent, and made a donation.

Lily Graeff donated to the Crenshaw County 4-H PB&J Food Drive.

Finding a “New Normal”

While state convention was unable to be held in person, the state officers got the star treatment as they filmed their virtual state convention.

ike the rest of the world, Career and Technical LEducation has been dramatically impacted by COVID-19. Membership in these student leadership organizations is down across the country, and students and teachers have struggled to find ways to be involved. The only human interactions have occurred through a computer screen on Zoom. After a challenging year, though, the Alabama FFA Association is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Spring is always the busiest season for FFA members to compete in the Career and Leadership Development contests that they love and work so hard to find success in. 2020 saw these contests conducted strictly virtually with no national contests to advance to. 2021, however, is allowing opportunities for these students to experience the

Eighteen FFA chapters competed in the State FFA Land Evaluation contest in March. “new normal.” The Alabama FFA state staff and other supporters have been slowly bringing back in-person events for FFA members utilizing several precautions and guidelines. These events started back in March with the election of district FFA officers. Students in each of the state’s three districts came together to interview for one of six officer spots in their respective district. In pre-COVID days, 20-30 students would gather excitedly to go through the different interview phases, but in the “new normal,” students were given a scheduled time to participate to lower the number of participants near one another. The day’s events went so well that hope was given of actually having some contests in person. In April, each district was able to hold a hybrid district elimination that consisted of some virtual qualifiers and some in-person events. After all, it is very difficult to hold a safe tractor driving contest virtually. With the help of countless supporters, each district was able to hold nine live events by following CDC guidelines and utilizing schedules for members to compete. While there was no traditional awards ceremony at the end of the day, it was still so great to see that blue corduroy jacket back in action. FFA members competed in livestock judging, land evaluation, forestry evaluation, safe tractor driving and numerous speaking events as they worked to earn a spot in the state finals in May. For events that consisted of large teams such as poultry judging and floriculture, virtual events were held to establish state qualifiers. All of this hard work paid off as 26 state contests were held in person over several days in May. Members who have worked to perfect their craft for years finally had the opportunity to test their skills against other FFA chapters across the state. While these students still could not gather for a large awards ceremony afterward, they took great pride in a job well done. These members and their teachers persevered. They chose to live out the FFA motto and create some truly special memories. The 93rd Alabama FFA State Virtual Convention’s theme was “Conquer.” I cannot think of a more fitting theme. This year, we have seen members and advisers across our state conquer every challenge and obstacle that crossed their paths knowing that they can face whatever tomorrow may bring.