Fairfield to observe National FFA Week

The Fairfield FFA Chapter at Fairfield High School will be observing National FFA Week next week, with a ?canstruction? event, theme days and the traditional tractor day and pancake breakfast for members, their family members and teachers.

Trent Taglauer, president of the Fairfield FFA Chapter, said the special week will kickoff with the canstruction event at 8 p.m. Sunday inside the Fairfield Hy-Vee Food and Drug Store.

About a dozen FFA members will be building a barn using food cans, said Taglauer.

?These students will be hosting their sponsors for an event at 4 p.m. Monday to take photos and talk about FFA and how farming impacts our society,? said Eric Lopp, manager of store operations.

?We at Hy-Vee are co-sponsoring the event with Agri-Industrial Plastics, Jefferson County Health Center, Cobb Oil, Golden Furrow Fertilizers, Edward Jones and Community 1st Credit Union,? said Lopp, adding he was expecting more commitments from additional sponsors.

According to Taglauer, who also is a Hy-Vee employee, the canstructed barn will remain on display at the front of the store throughout the week until Feb. 23, but once it comes down, the cans of food will be donated to The Lord?s Cupboard.

Taglauer doesn?t know how many cans would be used for the barn, but he said they weighed in at about a ton.

Throughout FFA Week at the high school, students will be dressing up to draw attention to the organization and the world of agriculture.

Monday will be Ford-Dodge-Chevy Day, with students dressing in apparel featuring those vehicles.

Tuesday is Camo Day, and students will dress in their camouflage gear.

Wednesday is the traditional Tractor Day. Not only will students be wearing clothes featuring tractors, but they also will be driving their tractors to school and having a parade through downtown Fairfield after school dismisses at 3:30 p.m.

Thursday is Blue and Gold Day. Blue and gold are the colors of FFA. The traditional pancake breakfast for FFA members, their families and teachers also is planned for early Thursday morning ? 6 a.m. ? in the FHS ag classroom north of the main school building.

Taglauer said about 20 FHS students are FFA members this year.

?Any high school student who is taking or has taken an ag class can join,? he said.

Taglauer said he recommends students join FFA.

?I think FFA promotes so much for the future of agriculture,? he said.

As members of FFA, Taglauer said, students attend conventions and participate in activities to help less fortunate people in the local community and throughout the United States.

In addition to Taglauer, the Fairfield FFA Chapter officers are: Lewis Thomes, vice president; Ashley Nelson, secretary; Madison Aplara, treasurer; James Kyle and Trevor Starnes, reporters; and J.T. Tedrow, sentinel. FHS ag teacher Ann Johnston is the Fairfield FFA Chapter advisor.