THE ULTIMATE HANDS-ON LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Moore FFA teaches lifelong lessons

BY: Callie Collins

Jessica Dunlap, agriculture education advisor at Moore High School, is proud to impart more than textbook topics to local teens. Responsibility, work ethic, business skills and life lessons: FFA may not necessarily be the first outlet that comes to mind for students to put those concepts into practice but it’s consistently teaching local students in more ways than one.

The term “FFA” often brings up conversations about the original meaning of the acronym, “Future Farmers of America,” a term the official organization no longer uses. They made the change in 1988 “to reflect the growing diversity and new opportunities in the industry of agriculture.” Applicable to so many disciplines, Dunlap recognizes the importance of what is collectively Oklahoma’s largest youth organization.

“FFA, in general, is really broad, especially here with this unique urban setup. Most of our kids live in a neighborhood, so owning livestock and keeping animals at home is not an option for them, so they use our school barn,” explained Dunlap. “Students have to go to the Moore FFA ag barn at least twice a day to see (the animals), feed them and make sure their environment is clean. It is a huge commitment.”

Although sheep, goats, pigs and cows are the animals students typically participate with if they choose to, showing an animal is not required in FFA.

Students at Moore High School join with Westmoore and Southmoore students who come together to participate with three agriculture education teachers. Between Dunlap and her colleagues, Hanna Aviles and Michael Gustafson, students can learn about animal and food science, aquaponics, horticulture, communications and leadership through a print shop that includes working with local customers and welding/metalwork as part of ag mechanics.

A greenhouse measuring 48 feet by 96 feet is also part of the features offered on-site. Seasonal plant sales are open to the public in the spring and fall.

Students in ninth through twelfth grade can participate in FFA. Participation throughout all four years of high school can spark an interest students they didn’t know they had by helping them discover something new. Finding their niche can spark a passion, and through a tremendous amount of hard work, those interests can lead to additional skills and even scholarships.

That was the case for Freddy Ronquillo, age 18, a high school senior from Southmoore who currently serves as chapter president. He won the prestigious 2021 Central Area Star in Ag Placement, a statewide competition with five regional designees in four categories. The honor included a full-tuition scholarship to Eastern Oklahoma State College awarded at the Oklahoma Youth Expo in March. His intended major is landscape design.

“I had no idea what FFA was. I am a proud first-generation FFA member,” said Ronquillo. While many participants have a longstanding tradition in their family of being in FFA, it was completely new for Ronquillo, whose family owns a lawn care business.

“In seventh and eighth grade, I took computer classes for my middle school electives. When freshman year came around, I told my counselor I wanted a different elective, something outdoors. I like fishing and I just wanted to do something that wasn’t indoors or looking at a screen,” said Ronquillo.

“I bused here and ever since I walked in the door, I found my first love, thanks to the teachers who help us. It’s because of them that I love it and that I am where I am today. I’m a very faith-filled person and I believe God puts people in your life for a specific purpose. They saw potential in me.”

Ronquillo explained how FFA helped him stay centered through his high school years.

“Before I was in ninth grade, I wasn’t sure who I was as a person,” he said. “Now, I wake up every day and I think about FFA. I plan to pursue agriculture the rest of my life and be involved in it. People don’t realize it but the agricultural industry is in everything. If you eat, you’re part of the agriculture industry.”

Learning responsibility is an important part of being in FFA. Ronquillo developed that life skill through the process of raising and showing pigs, a variation on the work ethic that also pairs well with his dreams of entrepreneurship with the family business.

“Showing animals teaches you a strong work ethic,” he said. “For example, sometimes they have to be on a schedule for their medicine. That has to be given to them at the same time each day and if not, they don’t make it sometimes or you can’t finish showing them. They survive because I’m there. It’s on me.”

During February’s ice storms, Ronquillo joined other students and his dedicated teachers in caring for the animals inside a single heated barn where they were all moved indoors.

“I don’t know what the temperature was but Mr. Gustafson and I were there with our students, who realized that just because it was snowing outside didn’t mean those animals didn’t need them to be able to eat. They had to show up,” said Dunlap. “It was rough for a couple of days. That storm came through at the end of their project. When animals are cold, they cannot put on weight, they get sick. Of course, we wanted the students to do well, so together, we made it work. They sat on the floor of my classroom while everyone else was at home and took care of their animals.”

Yareli Martinez of Moore High School is also 18 and a senior. She won a $2,000 scholarship made possible by McDonald’s to the college of her choice. Martinez plans to study animal science and pre-vet at OSU/OKC with the ultimate goal of becoming a veterinarian.

Interacting with animals at a relative’s veterinary clinic and a family farm helped Martinez develop that interest.

“Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved the vet idea,” she said. “When I heard there was a barn here and animals were part of it, I knew I had to participate. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have a place like this.”

Showing sheep for all four years of high school confirmed for her that caring for animals is what she loves to do.

Both Martinez and Ronquillo were thrilled to find out at the Oklahoma Youth Expo that they had won. Out of 250 candidates, 22 were selected. The selection process, which began in November, was extensive, between paperwork, essays, creating a resume to apply, logging volunteer hours, maintaining their GPAs for an optimal average and going through related interviews, in addition to FFA participation.

“Both Freddy and Yareli are just outstanding,” said Dunlap. “They’ve done what they’re told, worked circles around the others, done all the homework and put in the work. My goal is setting them up with skills so they leave better than they first came in because of what they learned at a critical age. If they do that after the four years I’ve had them, then my job is done. And if they can get through college with less debt because of scholarships, that’s also what I would want for them because paying student loans years after graduation is no fun.”

Dunlap has been teaching for six years. A graduate of Texas Tech in animal sciences, she went on to earn a master’s degree from Oklahoma State University in international agriculture before taking a job with the OSU Extension Office before being approached about teaching, which was not part of her original career plan.

“I was approached about applying for the job. This is my one and only stop on my tour of teaching,” she said. “We have such good administration and support from our administrators, I couldn’t ask for a better place to work. I believe I was put here for a reason.”

The notion that FFA is meant solely for children from family farms is one Dunlap would like to dispel. From graphic design to the ability to communicate well and follow directions, she recognizes their value to potential employers.

“I have no doubt my students will do something and go out and be something someday,” she said. “Kids have to go out and learn responsibility and work ethic. Meeting deadlines, being held accountable for their actions and following something through are really important skills they can use anywhere.”

Find out about Moore FFA’s upcoming events and print shop available for custom work to local businesses at facebook. com/mooreokffa/. –19SM