Alva FFA had a month filled with fun events, hard work, and competition. As livestock show and competition season comes nearer, FFA members work tirelessly to get their livestock ready, write speeches, and study their Career Development Events. As always, Alva FFA members continue to grow in their leadership skills.
The Agronomy Team started the semester with an agronomy workout at Oklahoma State University on January eighth. Members of the Agronomy Team are Kayla Leeper, Katelee Martin, Jansen Shirley, and Kase Martin. Dr. Beatrix Haggard taught these members how to grain grade according to contest guidelines and took them through the greenhouse to identify plants.
The annual Alva FFA Trophy Auction was held on January 13, 2025. This event sponsors local FFA and 4H showmen at the Alva Local Show. This sponsorship allows showmen to continue their livestock projects into the future. Alva livestock showmen are grateful to all those who sponsored them at this auction.
On January 15, Alva FFA members joined with the AHS Key Club and Monte Stewart to participate in Stamp Out Starvation. Stamp Out Starvation is a community service project created by Monte Stewart to help feed the hungry in Haiti despite the extreme political unrest there. This year, members packaged 11,880 meals while rocking some bright red hairnets.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day, on January 20, marked the beginning of Alva FFA Week. FFA Week is a week to celebrate agriculture, FFA, and the things this organization does for the community of Alva. Highlights of the week include the Alva High School Teacher Breakfast, the January Alva FFA Chapter Meeting, and Drive Your Tractor to School Day.
Drive Your Tractor to School Day is a favorite event among many Alva FFA Members. During this event, FFA members met at the Value Added Products parking lot at 7:00 AM on January 24. At 7:15, Tractors started rolling out of the parking lot and down College Boulevard towards Alva High School. Some members braved the 20-degree weather in their open-cab tractors. In all, 17 tractors and two combines were driven to Alva High School. The Chapter’s 2024 Tractor Restoration Project, a John Deere model B named “Carl,” made an appearance driven by member Jaxon Headlee. AHS Principal Vicki Neighswonger and APS Superintendent Jeremy Brasherears joined FFA members for Tractor Day.
On January 28, the FFA Officer Team attended the Goodwill Tour at the Garfield County Fairgrounds. Four Oklahoma FFA State Officers came to talk to FFA members about leadership and the importance of what is on the inside, not the outside.
Upcoming events include the Local Livestock Show, County Livestock Show, District Livestock and Ag Mechanics Show, and the Oklahoma Youth Expo. Stay updated on Alva FFA events by following Alva FFA on Instagram and Facebook.
Written and provided by Alva FFA Reporter Katelee Martin.
