FFA makes lasting mark at GHS

Club connects students with Ag community

Isis Thiede Giddyup Staff Writer

Nationwide, more than 850,000 students are members of Future Farmers of America (FFA), which was founded in 1928 in Virginia and grew to be an infl uential educational club in middle and high schools across the country. With 8,995 chapters, FFA has made an impact on not only students. but the country as well. The organization works to set students up for a career in agriculture, but also helps them learn the skills to solve difficult situations that they may encounter in their life. Thirty-one students currently participate in FFA at Gunnison High School, and teacher Scott Nordberg is the club’s sponsor.

“FFA creates many opportunities for students, like seeing the National Western Stock Show and learning to deal with animals through livestock operations,” said Nella Gardner, a member of the group. “We also learn to deal with kids and how to teach agriculture and livestock to them.”

Last weekend FFA ventured to the National Western Stock Show (NWSS), where students witnessed multiple rodeos and study better ways to show animals. Although GHS students have not historically participated in any events in the NWSS, they do participate in events at Cattlemen's Days

Rodeo, held every July in Gunnison. Some, like Gardner, even serve on the Cattlemen’s Days Committee. GHS FFA also hosts an annual food drive for the Gunnison Country Food Pantry later in the school year.

FFA also visits the Gunnison Elementary School to host Ag-Adventure Day for younger students every year in April. The club gets in touch with local ranches which provide animals for groups of FFA members, who then teach the elementary students about them.

“It’s like a petting zoo for them except they get to learn,” Gardener said. “I had alpacas last year.”

After high school, many FFA members plan to go to trade school, but participating in the club also helps them set up for opportunities like going to vet school or into ranching. GHS carries on the ideals and traditions of this 95-yearold club, and students say