Elk Grove FFA has had a busy fall. November’s theme was “Giving Back and Thanking our Heroes.” A series of community service activities were put in place to assist others in need. The Agriculture Department made a statement during the schools canned food drive gathering over 6,000 cans for the school sponsored drive. Mr. Rooney’s shop classes led the way with 4,200 cans. Their work paid dividends when shop students got to give Mr. Rooney a mohawk haircut and received a pizza party for their efforts. Mr. Patton’s classes were third in the school with over 1,850 cans. The FFA continues their community support by hosting a coat drive to support coats for kids and an eye glass drive in conjunction with the Elk Grove Lions Club. Both of these activities went extremely well and will benefit the Elk Grove community and greater Sacramento region.
On November 30th the chapter held its local leadership speaking events. Students participated in Prepared Public Speaking, Extemporaneous Public Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, FFA Creed, and the Job Interview contest. The local contest is the first step in qualifying for the competitive contests in the spring leading up to the FFA State Finals in April. Over 45 Elk Grove FFA members competed in front of a group of local judges to determine the top four in each event. The finalists are: Natalie Alaniz, Maddie Albiani, Joey Clifford, Abby Carlson, Jamie McCrory, Kendal Cahill, Emma Spivey, Natalie Kellman, Mary Swanberg, Natalie Resler, Alyssa McMahon, Lexi Stroud, Molly Swanberg, Anthony Arellano, Keegan Tank, Troy Mahon, Wesley Moen, Gerald Moen, Dillon Strybing, and Lynze Thornburg.
On December 7th the Elk Grove Chapter hosted a hypnotist show for FFA students from the Sacramento Section FFA. The show featured a professional hypnotist and was entertaining for all. The Elk Grove FFA Booster’s provided a snack bar for the event.
January marks the start of the farm project season as 100 baby pigs now call the Elk Grove School Farm home for the coming months. They soon will be followed by lambs, goats, laying hens and the birth of new bunnies for the fair. Over 140 students will have projects at the farm this spring including livestock, vegetable garden and greenhouse plants.
The chapter will hold its monthly meeting in the Cartwright gym on the 19th of January at 6:30 pm and feature the first ever blacklight dodgeball tournament! Wear white or clothes that will glow if you want to play.
35 Elk Grove FFA Members will serve their community by serving dinner at the annual Project Ride Crab Feed on January 21st. It is also worth an activity point.
On the 25th, Elk Grove FFA will host the Sacramento Section speaking contest where the other schools in the section and our own competitors will be competing in the Prepared Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Job Interview and Creed competitions. Only the top four in each contest will move on to the preliminary finals held at Galt High in February.
Those events will round out January and give way to the judging team season! More to come soon....
Interested in supporting FFA and Agriculture in California? Get an AG license plate to sport on your vehicle! For a one time fee of $50, you could join the proud ag supporters of this state. To get yours today, log on to www.calagplate.com If you purchase, be sure to let an ag teacher know so that we know who our supporters are! If you have questions or need details, email Mrs. Welch at slwelch@egusd.net
