SULLIVAN WEST — The Sullivan West FFA continued to build their program this year by adding a few new activities. To start off August 6-11, five students attended Summer Camp at the Oswegatchie Educational Center on the western edge of the Adirondacks.  Along with 150 others, the students completed high ropes challenges, team building, kayaking, paddleboarding, horseback riding, and other fun activities. Later in August, we had a booth at the Grahamsville Fair. The Fall was capped with booths at local Farm Festivals where we engaged with the public.

In October, we took 9 FFA members to the 96th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN. The trip was coordinated by the Stockbridge Valley FFA Alumni & Supporters Group and included FFA Chapters from Stockbridge Valley, Tri-Valley, Sullivan West, Hamilton, Sherburne-Earlville. Of the over 945,000 FFA members nationwide, there was a record 72,000 FFA members and guests in attendance this year from over 9,000 chapters in the US, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands. It was an action packed 8-day journey that resulted in new friends and many memories.  

In November we participated in the Farm to School program where some of our FFA members taught elementary students about crops, chicken anatomy and FFA.

January brought the creation of the Agriculture Club in the elementary school where now 6th graders can join the FFA. Some of those students participated in our second annual Leadership Development Event on Saturday, February 10th. We had 28 FFA members from Sullivan West, Livingston Manor, and the newly formed Downsville FFA chapter take part in a friendly competition in Prepared Public Speaking, Creed Speaking, People in Ag, and Employment Skills. Twenty local volunteers helped judge the presentations and gave feedback. As a community service project, FFA members signed thank you cards which have been sent to all the local fire departments, police agencies, and EMT’s that serve our community.

February 18-24 we will be engaged in National FFA week as members go to the Sullivan West Elementary school and give a short presentation to participating classes. Members are looking forward to attending the State FFA Convention in Buffalo in early May and another week at FFA Summer Camp at Camp Oswegatchie in August.