Wasilla Middle School FFA gives updates to school board

During the October 2 Matanuska-Susitna Borough school board meeting, Wasilla Middle School (WMS) Future Farmers of America gave an update to some of their recent events, as well as ongoing classroom projects.

Science teacher Sarah Rodriguez, who is also the new FFA advisor, reported that there was some grant money made available from the state of Alaska that has gone into FFA programs, allowing the program to expand to three middle schools in the MSBSD.

“Governor (Mike) Dunleavy wanted to encourage agriculture education, so grant money went to several of our high schools and middle schools, and we received a $20,000 grant to start our program. We started FFA programs at Wasilla Middle School, Palmer Junior Middle School has one now, and Glacier View has a program to try and get the kids excited and ready to move into the high school FFA programs that our district has to offer.”

The mission of the FFA is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agriculture education.

“The FFA stands for Future Farmers of America, but there is a lot of leadership that is involved,” Rodriguez said, recalling a leadership conference held at Palmer High School the week prior, with 100 students from high schools and middle schools from throughout the district. The students were able to meet and work with others in the FFA programs and meet with state officers, which are late high school students that have participated in the FFA.

Some activities at the 2-day conference included a welding workshop and an introduction to Marine Science. “We were able to see how Marine Science and agriculture are tied together.”

“I enjoyed learning how to identify different kinds of fish, and if they are legal to catch or not. I liked ‘Welding with Graham Crackers’ because it definitely helped with precision for welding in the future,” said Casey Patch from the WMS chapter of FFA. She also reported that she loved the working with her teammates in an exercise where she had to don a Gumby suit.

“The kids did get to do welding,” Rodriguez said, even though some older students weren’t thrilled that it was only with graham crackers. “You have to prove you can do it with graham crackers before you be set loose.” She went on to say that the students were also able to tour the welding area at Palmer High School.

Rodriguez also told the school board that one of the other important aspects to FFA is community service, highlighting the FFA Fall Community Project, which involves a partnership with the Northland Pioneer Grange to clean up and harvest the flower and vegetable garden at the Palmer Post Office, with harvested potatoes going to community meals.

“My favorite part of FFA is community service. The things I like about community service are that you get to meet new people, make new friends, go to new places, and help ore people in our community,” said Ray Westfall, a seventh grade student participating in the FFA through the WMS chapter. “I encourage you to help the community as well.”

Rodriguez also shared a few FFA events happening at the school level. “With some of our grant money that we got, we purchased hydroponics kits, so we are growing strawberries in our classroom.” She said the students are also studying embryology and hatching chicks, which is also a fundraiser for the program as they sell the chicks to the community.

She also said that there is a Marine Science focus and the students will also be hatching salmon eggs in the classroom.

Rodriguez said some of the FFA goals include increasing agriculture awareness, but also developing leadership, building confidence, promoting teamwork, building character, and encouraging healthy lifestyles.