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John Jay High School FFA showcases county competitions, community outreach to Wappingers board
Summary
Members of the John Jay FFA chapter presented highlights from the past year — including county fair competitions, school visits, and community events — and thanked the Wappingers Central School District Board of Education for support.
John Jay High School's Future Farmers of America chapter presented a year-in-review to the Wappingers Central School District Board of Education on Oct. 6, outlining competitions, community outreach and fundraising events and offering board members pumpkins grown by chapter members as a token of thanks.
The presentation, led by chapter adviser MJ McFarland and multiple student officers and members, included descriptions of field trips to Upland Dairy in Millbrook and Stormfield Swiss in Wappingers, participation in the Dutchess County Fair and the New York State FFA convention, school visits to Brinkerhoff and Fishkill elementary schools, and school events such as a winter carnival and Springfest. “We do have a little presentation for you, just showcasing a little bit of what we've done throughout last year and into the summer,” MJ McFarland said when introducing the students.
The students described competitive results and activities. Jenna Lawrence, chapter president, summarized the chapter's competition schedule: “We went to three different competitions, district, substate, and state.” Students reported that an ag issues team advanced to substate and that several members advanced in extemporaneous speaking competitions. One student noted winning two ribbons at the Dutchess County Fair for a themed garden display; another said he and a teammate placed grand champion and reserve grand champion in livestock at the fair.
Students described community outreach that included visits to elementary schools where they read to kindergartners and provided pumpkin seeds, a Mother’s Day fundraiser at an alpaca farm, and booths at community events where the chapter shared information about agriculture and hosted a petting zoo. “It was very educational for the kids that came,” Carly Bagdonis, junior adviser and third vice president, said of the winter carnival.
Board president Marie Johnson thanked the chapter for the presentation and for the gift. “I would like to thank the FFA for the beautiful presentation and our gifts,” Johnson said. The chapter handed out two pumpkins to each board member that the students said they grew at John Jay.
The presentation closed with the students expressing gratitude for district support that enabled travel and competitive participation. The board did not take formal action on the presentation; it was made as part of the superintendent’s spotlight segment.
