By Chloey Devore and Ashten Taylor
Flora’s FFA chapter has been on the road several times already this year, attending special events, competitions, and helping with community activities. The group is led by the 2015 FFA officers: President Garrett Williams, Vice President Kenna Williams, Secretary Taylor Schymick, Treasurer Eddie VanHoose, Sentinel Autumn Buffington, Reporter Sabryna Williams, Points Chairmen Dakota Greenwood, and Historian Brittany McKnelly. Greenhand officers include: President Mekenzie Wheeler,Vice President Evan VanHoose, Secretary Max Thomason, Treasurer Isaac Prather, Reporter Xavier Akes, Sentinel Bobby Garrison,Points Chairmen Jonah Krutsinger, and Historian Bryanna Scott
They began the year attending Farmyard Follies on Sept. 1, where members participated in challenges and farm related games such as hay bale toss, tug of war, and bale stacking. Members in attendance included: Josh Beland, Evan VanHoose, Mekenzie Wheeler, Seth Williams, Dawson BRitton, Damyan Akes, Jon Baker, Reagan Billingsley, Avery Booth, Austin DAvis, Dakota Greenwood, Billy Wilke, Brittany Collier, Brittany Mcknelly, Faith Snell, Megan Stone, Eddie VanHoose, Kenna Williams, and Garrett Williams.
Two days later they were on the road again, this time to Decatur to attend the annual Farm Progress Show on Sept. 3. Students attending that were Josh Beland, Xavier Akes, Jaryn Allen, Rynehardt Dawkins, Ashley Jacobs, Devon Krutsinger, Trey Lewis, Chloe McGee, Mekenzie Wheeler, Seth Williams, Jessica Bell, Reagan Billingsley, Avery Booth, Brittany Collier, Megan Stone, Garrett Williams, Lane Welty, Kenna Williams.
Students got the chance to practice skills they’d been practicing on Sept. 11 at the SIU Horse Judging competition. Brendan Artis, Josh Beland, Dalton Musser, Mekenzie Wheeler, Nicholas Eckleberry, Damyan Akes, Jon Baker, Dakota Greenwood, Kobe Young, and Bryanna Scott represented FHS.
To give back to the community, members helped at the Xenia Ranch Rodeo on Sept 12. Carson Perry, Mason Rinehart, Connor Hower, Brittany McKnelly, Eddie VanHoose, Rynehardt Dawkins, Andrew Pearce, Mekenzie Wheeler, Damyan Akes, Kolbi Kittle, Jon Kull, Seth Williams, and Josh Beland all worked the event.
On Sept. 15 The team of Mekenzie Wheeler, Kenna Williams, Garrett Williams, Dakota Greenwood, Damyan Akes, Xavier Akes, Josh Beland, Dalton Musser attended the Section 23 Horse Judging Contest. On the same day, the Forestry Team: Garrett Williams, Kenna Williams, Sabryna Williams, Eddie VanHoose, and Dakota Greenwood placed third at the Section 23 contest; Garrett Williams placed 6th, Sabryna Williams placed 11th, and Kenna Williams placed 12th overall.
Representing FHS, Evan VanHoose, Xavier Akes, Bryanna Scott, Seth Williams, Bobby Garrison, and Josh Beland attended the Section 23 Greenhand Quiz Bowl on Thursday, Sept. 24. At the same time, Kenna Williams, Garrett Williams, Eddie VanHoose, and Dakota Greenwood went to the Leadership Training School.
Along with Appleknocker on Sept. 26, the Forestry Team also attended the state competition. Forestry placed 8th in the state contest.