FFA week and the Colorado Ag Hall of Fame Banquet

As always, National FFA Week was extra busy for the Haxtun FFA Chapter. There was a long list of activities planned for the week, Feb. 21-24. On Tuesday, the Chapter held the annual petting zoo. Classes preschool through sixth grade came and a few local daycares came as well. Members had the usual set of animals including horses, a steer, bottle calves, goats(kids), lambs, a pig, a chicken and of course Mr. Jeff Plumb's dog, Bella. As elementary students came through, members gave their teachers coloring pages so they could compete in a coloring contest within their own classes.

On Wednesday, chapter members provided the high school student body and all of our school's staff with Santiago's breakfast burritos. Many students have agreed that this is the best part of celebrating FFA Week. Each day Plumb's ag classes do a different ag-related activity/competition during their class time. Wednesday was egg races. There was an obstacle course set up in the wood shop that students had to go through while balancing an egg on a spoon at the same time. Only the morning classes got to do this because students were sent home for the afternoon due to weather. The afternoon classes made up the competition on March 1.

Thursday was tricycle races. Students have to ride a home-made tricycle and weave through cones one direction before they turn around and ride back to the start/finish line as fast as they can. It seems to be a fun day for students.

Friday should have been the return of the pickup push but the Chapter had to put it off until Tuesday, Feb. 28 because it was way too cold to be hanging out outside. During the pickup push, pairs of students had to push the ag pickup 150 feet, the fastest time won.

Another recent event was the Ag Hall of Fame Banquet held at the Westin in Denver. CHS provided the Chapter with seats at the banquet, giving members the opportunity to attend. Seven Haxtun FFA members attended only with Mr. Plumb and Brandy Morris. Members ate an amazing meal after watching three new members get inducted into the Ag Hall of Fame; Ben Rainbolt, Jerry Sonnenberg and Eric Wilkinson.

Chapter members were able to talk to some educated agricultural politicians, such as Byron Pelton and gained a lot of new information. Those who went said it was an amazing experience hopes are it is something members get to do again next year.