As the year came to an end that didn’t slow down the BG FFA. The chapter started November off with the end of fruit sale with the total gross amount sold being $47,000. This is the only fundraiser the chapter does to fund all of the activities that members participate in throughout the year. Members are involved in all aspects of the fundraiser including pricing, marketing, ordering, assembling fruit baskets, sorting, and delivering to customers.
The members of the Animal and Plant Science Class wrapped up their poultry nutrition project by taking their chickens to a local processing plant to be harvested. The members learned how to cut up a whole chicken into its retail parts. The members use this project to illustrate proper nutrition and feeding practices when caring for livestock. Special thanks to Mid-Wood Inc. and John Krukemyer for their donation of feed to conduct the feeding trials.
The Food Science team consisting of Arika Adams, Eddie Eschedor, Madison Carillo and Aiden Meyer placed second in the district which allowed them to move on to the state contest which took place in December. The Food Science contest required members to complete a series of practicums such as food sensory evaluation and food analysis as well as complete a group food product development project. The team placed 17th in the state competition.
Arika Adams participated in the District Job Interview contest. For this contest, she completed a resume, job application, cover letter, a mock job interview, and a follow up letter. Arika placed fourth in the district contest.
At the end of November, the Bowling Green FFA hosted a State FFA Leadership Night for area schools. Approximately 150 members from 10 different schools participated in a one-hour leadership workshop. The workshop was presented by three State FFA Officers. Members enjoyed pizza after the workshop.
December is the season of giving and sharing and the Bowling Green FFA follows suit with this month’s activities. The chapter supports the Dear Santa Society in a multitude of ways. Three senior members of the officer team shopped to help provide Christmas gifts for a family adopted by the chapter. Extra fruit from our fundraiser was also sorted and delivered to the families of the Dear Santa program. Members also helped to wrap presents and store all the items in the Ag Department to be delivered to families To continue the giving spirit, the freshman classes put together candy cane reindeer which were delivered to three local nursing homes to help spread the holiday cheer. FFA members also collected over 4,000 square feet of wrapping paper to donate to Thayer’s Christmas Dreams program.
The wrap up to the first semester was a FFA family holiday gathering. The team decorated the Ag Dept. to spread holiday cheer. Members were invited to watch a movie, enjoy a hot chocolate bar, decorate (and eat) cookies, play games, and participate in some arts and crafts. It was a good way to end the semester and still keep members excited for the upcoming events in the new year. The Bowling Green Agricultural Education Department is a satellite program of the Penta Career Center.
