DECATUR — For most students, summer vacation is a time for swimming, hiking and spending time with family. But for members of the Decatur Future Farmers of America chapter at Decatur High School, summer is a time to tend to their animals and attend meetings.
The Decatur FFA chapter received several awards during the 89th Arkansas FFA State Convention June 1-3 at Camp Couchdale on Lake Catherine in Hot Springs.
Alisun Watson received the FFA Makes A Difference Award for her community service work with Horses for Healing and coaching Decatur students at the Special Olympics. During the fourth session of the convention, Watson received a gold medal for her "Small Animal Proficiency" project.
Lacy Barrett, 2015 Decatur High School graduate, was honored for her swine project during the opening session of the convention June 1.
Last March, the Arkansas FFA State Officers toured Lacy and Paige Barrett's supervised agricultural experience (pig farm). Lacy told them the story of their farrowing house burning down with two sows and two litters of pigs still inside. The officers were touched by Lacy's story and honored her dedication to the livestock industry by rebuilding her farrow house and increasing her sow herd.
In the opening session of the state convention, the state officers quoted the FFA Creed. In the second paragraph of the Creed it states: "I know the joys and discomforts of agriculture life." They told Lacy Barrett's story about the farrowing house and how she could have quit but instead built back and expanded.
The Decatur chapter received several additional awards during the state convention, including the Affiliated Chapter Award, the National Chapter Award, and an award for the chapter's Food, Fiber and Shelter project. Haley Burden received her National FFA scholarship of $1,500. Bracy Owens and Wyatt Bingham received their state FFA degree.
Other Decatur FFA News
The Decatur chapter recently received a $500 grant from the Siloam Springs Tractor Supply store to build a new chicken coop and fencing. The coop will house chickens that are hatched in agriculture classes at Decatur High School.
The chickens will be housed at school next to the barn. The hens will be kept to produce eggs, which will be given to the local food pantries in Decatur. Construction on the coop will start soon after school starts in the fall.
The Siloam Springs Tractor Supply sold FFA emblems for $1, with the proceeds from these sales going into the grant.
"We would like to thank the Siloam Springs Tractor Supply for sponsoring the Decatur FFA Chapter," said Lisa Barrett, Decatur School District's agriculture teacher.
General News on 07/13/2016