Fifteen attend informational meeting

By Chad Koenen

Publisher

For the first time in decades, navy blue coats with a large yellow FFA patch will begin lining the hallways at Henning School this fall. 

New ag teacher Arica Caughey is bringing back the once popular FFA program for students in grades 7-12 at Henning School. Caughey recently held an informational meeting and had 15 students express an interest in being a part of FFA. She said some students are already planning their projects and talking about what areas they would like to focus on when it gets closer to competition time. 

“They seem pretty excited (about FFA),” she said.

While many people may associate FFA with living on a farm, Caughey said the program has wide benefits for students to learn about things like food science, public speaking and leadership, trap shooting, environmental and natural resources, farm and agribusiness management, as well as parliamentary procedure. 

Caughey said she was a member of the FFA when she went to high school in Brainerd and enjoyed the opportunity to get to know students from across the region at the various competitions.

“I enjoyed having the opportunity to compete in contests and meet people from across the state,” she said. 

So far Caughey said many of the students who have expressed an interest in joining FFA are in the 7-10th grade level, many of whom will attend the FFA fall rally which is open to students in grades 7-9. In addition to the support from students, Caughey said she has received quite a bit of support from the community as she rebuilds the FFA program in Henning. 

“It’s cool to see the community support for it to come back,” she said.