FFA Chapter Pivots to Still Advocate for Agriculture

The Slinger FFA Chapter hosted an in-person Food For America event with COVID-19 protocols in place. It was different in past years, but this event still happened with modifications. “This year we tried to make it as hands on and visual as possible so we had to bring a lot of the stuff to the elementary schools” Kylee Henneberry, the Slinger FFA President stated. She mentioned that they thought of having a virtual tour, but that was just not the same. They were determined to put this event on and “kind of waited until the last minute to see how that would change with COVID-19.” When she said that they waited until the last minute, it was 2 weeks prior before they had the final yes from administration.

At this event, they had many stations for over 500 4th and 5th grade students to explore this hands on opportunity. Tyler Strupp, a senior FFA member, mentions that there was an ag Olympics station, a tractor ride around the schools, and an ice cream station.

The importance of this event is shared with community members and administration as the Slinger High School Principal Philip Ourada stated “No matter what background (students come from) they understand the importance of agriculture and the impact it has on our community and in our state and country”