Across the United States, all Future Farmers of America members come together on the week of former president George Washington’s birthday to promote and teach communities locally and nationally about agriculture. During national FFA week Middletown High School holds numerous events to involve the student body.
Sentinel Officer Sasha Koulinkovitch explained the primary methods used to celebrate the week. She says, “Tuesday, we have Camo Day as our spirit day and after school we have an ice cream party with a movie. On Wednesday, we have USA Day and we move the flags with the boy scouts. Thursday is Blue and Gold Day and after school we have a social with carnival games and scooters to play Titanic and Hungry, Hungry Hippo. Friday, the final day, is Flannel Friday and after school we go ice skating at Skate Frederick from 8 to 12 pm. Everyone is invited to these events.”
The FFA works hard not only during FFA week, but throughout the year to help the community. Vice President Madison Spurrier says that they “Always have a service project.” She says, “This week, we are doing the replacing of the flags. We always try to give back to the community. Other than that, we just try to get other members involved and kids that aren’t really FFA members to kin of just see that FFA isn’t just about farming. We have a lot of fun too.” Beyond this week, the FFA has held “canned food drives, hygiene drives, and last year we sent soldiers care packages.”
Audrey Poffenbarger, Middletown High School sophomore,speaks about the importance of FFA week in our community, saying, “The importance of FFA in our community is that we can teach kids about agriculture and educate them and get them interested and build new leaders for the future.” Poffenbarger is also a current member of the FFA and has been participating and helping out in this week’s activities.
Lexi Taylor, a Middletown High School sophomore, explains that, when she celebrates FFA week, she likes getting to do, “crazy cool things. It makes it more fun to celebrate.”
FFA week is not only celebrated at Middletown High, but across the country. Madison Spurrier explains the importance of this event nationally by saying, “The importance of FFA week nationally is basically spreading awareness of the FFA. We celebrate on George Washington’s birthday. George Washington was a great agriculturalist and we celebrate the week of Presidents’ Day because that is his birthday.”
Sasha Koulinkovitch adds to this, explaining the FFA’s hopes to “spread agriculture education and get more people involved.”
This event has been celebrated through the country by the FFA for decades and Middletown High School’s FFA plans to continue to stay involved in this event while they help the community and raise agricultural awareness for everyone.
