by KENDALL FARRAR, Bok North FFA reporter
Polk County Youth Fair
✨ A Fair to Remember! ✨
As January came to a close, our chapter kicked off the new year with an incredible showing at the Polk County Youth Fair! With 77 members presenting over 150 entries—ranging from cattle and rabbits to cakes and canning—our students truly made their mark. Members walked away with buckles, banners, trophies, ribbons, and a treasure trove of memories.
🚜 Our impressive entries included: 8 market hogs, 3 lambs, 21 goats, 2 steers, 3 heifers, 10 rabbits, 12 chickens, 4 cakes, 6 canned items, and 39 plants. On top of that, our members competed in archery, goat tying, and judging contests.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to all of the buyers and supporters who helped make this event such a success for our members. Special thanks to the Lake Wales FFA Alumni for keeping our team fueled with meals and snacks throughout the week of the fair.
Florida State Fair
🐮 State Fair Spotlight 🐰
To kick off February, a few of our students took their talents to the Florida State Fair, competing against tough competition and shining brightly! Much like the County Fair, students showcased their animals, learned new skills, and expressed themselves with pride.
✨ Standout Achievements:
• Laura Lynn Berkau and Brianna Ritchey showed their heifers with great success. Brianna earned 1st place in her class, then went on to be the Reserve Breed Champion with Angel!
• Madison O’Neal and Emily McNutt wowed the judges in their rabbit showmanship.
• Lane Walker had a phenomenal showing with his cattle, placing 1st in his class, winning his division, and going on to win Overall Grand Champion Red Brangus Bull with M&M’s Mr. 844L4 Legend in both the open and youth shows!
Overall, we are beyond proud of our showmen and their dedication!
Ag Literacy in Lake Wales
📚 Planting Seeds of Knowledge 🌻
This month, a few of our officers visited Polk Avenue and Janie Howard Elementary Schools, where they shared their passion for agriculture. Students learned about career opportunities in agriculture, the importance of pollinators, and how to grow their own plants.
The officers provided snacks and a short storytime, creating bonds with the children. By visiting each school monthly, we aim to foster curiosity about agriculture while building reading and problem-solving skills.
Helping Expand Other Agriculture Programs
🐐 New Homes, New Beginnings 🐇
This month, we said goodbye to three of our baby goats—Mathew, Attitude, and Thumper—as they made their way to Blake Academy to help expand their agricultural program. These goats will be the foundation for growing their land lab.
Additionally, we gifted three Holland Lop rabbits—Bellatrix, Bella, and Bono so another FFA member could expand their SAE project. While it’s always bittersweet to see our animals go, we know they’ll help build other school farms and labs.
Knights of the Safe Zone
🚸 Making School Zones Safer, One Step at a Time 🛡️
Our members have been working diligently to educate parents and students about school zone safety through our “Knights of the Safe Zone” program. This initiative focuses on raising awareness about the importance of staying alert and cautious during school drop-off and pick-up times. We are proud to see our students taking the lead in making our community safer for everyone.
Wellness Warriors
🧘 Mastering Emotional Traffic Lights 🚦
Our Wellness Warriors workshop series continued this month with a powerful session on “emotional traffic lights.” Using a simple traffic light model, students learned how to stop or pause negative thoughts and emotions and proceed with positive, productive ones. A wonderful tool for mental wellness and self-regulation!
Keep Polk County Beautiful Road Clean-ups
🌎 Keeping Our Community Clean & Green 🗑️
This month, our chapter hit the road—literally! We cleaned up the stretch of highway we adopted, picking up trash and litter. While there wasn’t much this time, we’re proud of our work and look forward to seeing what we find next month.
Exciting news: we’ve been contacted by the City of Lake Wales to participate in a new Adopt-a-Lake program, which is set to kick off soon!
National FFA Week
🎉 A Week to Celebrate Agriculture’s Future 🌾
National FFA Week took center stage in February, offering our chapter an opportunity to celebrate the organization’s pivotal role in developing future agricultural leaders.
The week was packed with spirit, including themed dress days, FFA trivia, and a festive pizza and dance party to close out the celebration. A highlight of the week was attending the City of Lake Wales commission meeting, where Mayor Hilligross issued a proclamation recognizing the importance and positive impact of our FFA chapter.
Looking Ahead
As we wrap up a month of triumphs, teamwork, and growth, we can’t wait to see what March will bring. With the joy and challenges that await us, we’re ready to take them on with pride!
🌟 Stay tuned—more success stories are on the horizon! 🌟
