September was a Busy Month for Buckeye FFA

Submitted by Katy Wright, written by Leah Edwards and Kayla Kerr

Buckeye FFA was excited to participate in the BUHS Homecoming Parade as a part of the 90th Annual Homecoming celebration. The FFA theme for their float was “Real Country All the Time.” FFA members two stepped alongside the float and sang loud and proud to country music. Over 20 FFA members waved to the crowd with big smiles on their faces.

In addition to building their Homecoming parade float, first year agriculture students, known as Greenhands, received the opportunity to go to Millennium High School for a one day leadership conference on September 15. Mrs. Wright, Buckeye FFA advisor, took 17 students to be involved in this eye opening experience of what FFA can do for them. The kids break off into color coordinated groups to come up with a game plan for their future and compete against the other color groups. Arizona FFA state officers help out with this event giving the students a chance to meet their representatives in FFA and mingle with new people. At this conference the Greenhand FFA members can let their minds open up to a world with opportunities, while learning leadership skills, public speaking and teamwork skills.

On Friday, September 17, Buckeye FFA hosted its Second Annual “Kiss the Cow” Coin Drive to benefit the Heifer International program. Buckeye FFA officers selected seven teachers and two students to be in the running to kiss a cow at the end of the coin drive. Students donated money to whomever they wanted to kiss the cow the most. “Mr. Holstein Hayes”, Drama and English teacher at Buckeye Union High School, won the contest and kissed the 1,000 pound Holstein cow during both lunch periods. Seventy dollars in donations were raised through the Kiss the Cow coin drive. The money will be used to purchase an agriculture product for a poverty stricken family in a third world country to help them support their family. Typically this product is livestock which acts as both a source of income and food.

On Monday, September 19th, the Buckeye FFA Chapter held their second meeting of the year. Each meeting now has a theme that ties into the idea of “I believe”; the inspiration for this came from National Convention last October. September’s theme was “I believe in tradition.” A great tradition of the FFA is the Creed written by E.M. Tiffany in 1928. To receive the Greenhand degree, the first award available to first year agricultural students, each student is required to memorize and present the FFA Creed. Three individuals competed for the chance to represent the Buckeye FFA Chapter at the Estrella District competition. Susanna Troub was first runner up and Christianne Kerr and Joshua Troub placed second and first respectively. The district contest will be in Chino Valley on November 9 and the state contest will be held in Gilbert on December 2.