After 75 years of providing quality programs for Live Oak
students, the school’s chapter of the Future Farmers of America
(FFA) is still going strong and will celebrate its history with
a
“Spring Fling” party and auction April 24 in the high school
gym. “We’ll be celebrating all the wonderful students who have gone
through the program through the years and all the dedicated people
who have been involved with our chapter,” said Ag Boosters
President Kris Friebel. “For many o
f us, it has been a true family involvement. My father-in-law
was in the program, my husband and myself and now our kids. The
appeal of the program does not wane over the generations.”
After 75 years of providing quality programs for Live Oak students, the school’s chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) is still going strong and will celebrate its history with a “Spring Fling” party and auction April 24 in the high school gym.
“We’ll be celebrating all the wonderful students who have gone through the program through the years and all the dedicated people who have been involved with our chapter,” said Ag Boosters President Kris Friebel. “For many of us, it has been a true family involvement. My father-in-law was in the program, my husband and myself and now our kids. The appeal of the program does not wane over the generations.”
The original charter for the chapter, Friebel said, bears the signature of George Preston Thomas, father of the George Thomas, who is president of the Live Oak Foundation and husband of Shelle Thomas, vice-president of the School Board.
“The organization is ingrained in the community,” Friebel said. “We are very grateful for the support of the community over the years and continuing today.”
Through community support, the Ag Boosters are able to help keep FFA going and even provide scholarships to eligible seniors. The FFA receives no money from the School District, so community support is vital.
“The program is very self-sufficient,” Friebel said. “Our ag teachers, who you could call the program’s coaches, because we have parliamentary coaches, speech coaches, project coaches, do not get a stipend from the district as athletic coaches and other extracurricular support.”
A large part of the community support for the program is manifested in donations from community businesses. These supporters will be recognized during the April 24 Spring Fling.
The Ag Boosters have classified them according to the levels of competition FFA students compete in, such as “chapter,” “state” and “national.”
Some of the “state” sponsors include Wells Fargo, Sakata Seed, Usegi Farms, Featherhaven Feed, Associated Concrete, Calcolor Growers, Countyside Mushrooms, Royal Oaks Mushrooms and the Tersini family, Friebel said.
Funding from the sponsors is used to provide scholarships, between $4,000 and $7,000 Friebel said, depending on how much is raised, and at least a couple are awarded each year.
Profits from running the snack shack at Live Oak’s Richert Field also go into Ag Booster coffers. The boosters support the FFA program not only by distributing scholarships but by making day-to-day operations possible. Funds are used to pay for special supplies for some projects, to send teams to competitions and other essential expenditures.
Friebel said she and the Ag Boosters hope the Spring Fling auction will not only raise the necessary funds for the program but will also be an exciting way to do it, plus a celebration of the history of the local chapter.
“This is the first time we’ve done a spring auction; we thought we’d spice things up a little, change things around,” she said. “We’ll be serving complementary appetizers and desserts, and the focus will be on fun.”
An auctioneer will be on hand to wield the gavel and award prizes to the highest bidders. Prizes include gift packages and certificates from area businesses, wineries and restaurants and recreation facilities.
“We’re very pleased with the prizes we’ve lined up, especially for our first year,” Friebel said. “There should be something for everyone, from golf to facials to fancy dinners.”
The variety of prizes is similar to the variety of opportunities Live Oak High students have within the FFA. A popular misconception that FFA students only raise pigs and cows or grow vegetables is far from true at Live Oak High. The head of the school’s ag program – known as the high-tech agricultural science program – Vera Gomes, has brought a whole new vision to the program, with classes like molecular biology, while still retaining the traditional.
“It is truly an exciting time for the program,” Friebel said. “The students can explore so many possibilities, things that they might never have considered as possible career choices.”
The Spring Fling, she said, will be an opportunity to thank the wonderful group of volunteer parents who make the program possible, as well as community sponsors, and an opportunity for the community in general to learn more about the program.
The Spring Fling will be held at 6 p.m. April 24 in the Live Oak High gym, 1505 E. Main Ave. Details: [email protected] or 201-6100 ext. 1115.
