by KENDALL FARRAR, Bok North FFA Reporter
& LANDEN ATKINS, Public Relations Chairperson
March was a month overflowing with achievement, hands‑on learning, and leadership growth for Bok North FFA. From the show ring to the land lab, students embraced every opportunity to represent their chapter and deepen their agricultural knowledge. Their efforts this month highlight the strength, dedication, and spirit of a rapidly rising FFA program.
Success at the Florida Strawberry Festival
The month began with excitement as several chapter members exhibited livestock at the Florida Strawberry Festival—one of Florida’s most competitive youth agriculture events.
Two Bok North members earned prestigious honors:
- Isabell McKeon received the Herdsman’s Belt Buckle Award, recognizing exceptional animal care and professionalism.
- LaRae Lawson earned the Herb Grenamen Memorial Belt Buckle Award, honoring exhibitors who demonstrate leadership, dedication, and a strong work ethic.
In addition, Jackson and Kendall competed in extremely competitive classes and placed in the top 10%, an impressive accomplishment at a show known for its depth of talent.
Central Florida Youth in Agriculture: A Strong Finish to Show Season
Bok North FFA also traveled to Central Florida Youth in Agriculture events, where chapter members exhibited heifers, lambs, pigs, and a Brangus bull. The team closed out their show season with outstanding results:
- Lane placed 2nd with his Brangus bull
- Jackson and LaRae placed 3rd with their commercial heifers
- Kendall and Bell placed 4th in their classes
Several additional exhibitors had standout moments:
- Aria and her lamb Kodak dominated the ring, earning 3rd Overall Supreme Showman, Grand Champion Intermediate Showman, and 4th in their class. Their consistency, confidence, and connection in the ring made them one of the most talked‑about teams of the show.
- Landen showed his market hog “Darrell” with confidence and precision. He completed his project successfully by selling Darrell at the youth livestock auction—an important milestone that teaches responsibility, financial management, and the full cycle of livestock production.
- Grace exhibited Jilly, the chapter’s bred‑and‑owned gilt born on campus this past October. Jilly lived up to her princess reputation, placing 2nd in an extremely competitive breeding gilt class.
Members also excelled in showmanship, demonstrating confidence, knowledge, and strong animal‑handling skills. The experience capped off a season filled with growth, responsibility, and teamwork.
OH Demonstrations: Two Teams Advance to State
This month brought intense preparation for one of Bok North’s favorite competitions: Ornamental Horticulture Demonstrations (OH Demos). Students developed presentations, memorized ten‑minute speeches, and refined their delivery for district competition.
Their hard work paid off with exceptional results:
- LaRae & Grace — 2nd Place, Consumer Use
- Lilly & Maci — 2nd Place, Landscape Design
- Landen & Lane — 1st Place, Production
- Isabell & Kendall — 1st Place, Marketing
Our first‑place teams successfully secured their spots at the Florida FFA State OH Demos Competition in Gainesville at the end of the month. This achievement reflects both their dedication and the chapter’s strong emphasis on leadership development.
Ag in Real Life Showcase: Hands‑On Career Exploration at the Land Lab
This month, Bok North FFA hosted its first Ag in Real Life Showcase, transforming the land lab into an immersive, hands‑on career exploration event. Students rotated through a series of interactive demonstrations led by professionals from across Florida’s agricultural and natural‑resource industries. Presenters included:
- Polk County Sheriff’s Office
- Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
- Florida Forestry Service
- Jim Rash Inc.
- Snively Cattle Company
- Florida Agritourism Association
Each rotation allowed students to handle real tools, equipment, and materials used in the field. They practiced wildfire‑safety techniques with forestry rangers, explored wildlife‑management tools with FWC officers, learned about cattle‑production equipment from Snively Cattle Company, and even interacted with a live horse during the livestock‑industry demonstration.
Students also enjoyed a refreshing strawberry sorbet made from locally grown berries, tying in the importance of Florida’s fruit and vegetable industries.
Every station included a question‑and‑answer session, giving students the chance to engage directly with professionals, ask about career paths, and learn what skills are needed to succeed in each field. The Showcase highlighted the wide range of opportunities available in agriculture—from environmental conservation and animal science to agritourism, crop production, and public safety.
The event not only connected classroom learning to real‑world careers but also strengthened community partnerships and inspired students to envision their future roles in Florida agriculture.
Ag Literacy & Mentorship at Janie Howard: Growing the Next Generation
Bok North FFA continued its strong partnership with Janie Howard Wilson Elementary, expanding both agricultural literacy and student mentorship initiatives.
This month, members proudly completed the construction of the new goat pen, allowing them to bring Asher and Knox, two Nigerian Dwarf wethers, to campus for hands‑on learning. Elementary students were able to interact with the goats, practice basic animal‑science skills, and gain a deeper understanding of livestock care. For many, it was their first time working with live animals—an experience that sparked excitement and curiosity about agriculture.
In addition to Ag Literacy lessons, several Bok North members continued their involvement in the Wellness Warriors program, a mentorship initiative focused on supporting fifth-graders as they prepare for middle school. Through monthly visits, FFA members have built meaningful relationships with students, offering guidance on emotional well‑being, confidence, communication, and navigating the transition to a new school environment. The bond formed between mentors and mentees has become one of the most rewarding aspects of the chapter’s outreach efforts.
Together, these programs highlight Bok North FFA’s commitment not only to agricultural education but also to leadership, service, and community connection.
In‑Class Agriculture: Hands‑On Learning Every Day
Beyond competitions and field trips, Bok North FFA students engaged in dynamic, hands‑on agricultural learning throughout the month.
Students engineered 3D functioning milking parlors, complete with moving components that demonstrated how dairy cows are milked safely and efficiently. These models helped students understand the mechanics, sanitation, and workflow of modern dairy systems.
The chapter also completed its beef‑production unit with a major milestone: artificially inseminating Sunny, the program’s Mixon Cattle Company Brangus heifer. Students learned about genetics, reproductive management, and the science behind improving herd quality—an experience that mirrors real‑world cattle‑industry practices.
To connect history and livestock identification, students created their own fire brands using scrap wood, designing unique symbols and learning how branding has been used for centuries to identify ownership and protect herds.
These classroom activities reinforced the chapter’s commitment to experiential learning, giving students the chance to apply agricultural science in meaningful, memorable ways.
Inside the Publix Dairy Factory: A Behind‑the‑Scenes Look at Florida’s Food System
This month’s field trip took students deep into the heart of Florida’s food‑processing industry with a tour of the Publix Dairy Factory, a facility known for its precision, efficiency, and high standards of food safety. What began as a simple tour quickly turned into one of the most memorable learning experiences of the year.
Students learned that Publix operates multiple specialized plants across the state, each dedicated to producing different dairy and beverage products. They gained insight into how milk from Florida farms is transported, processed, and transformed into everyday staples like cheese, butter, cream cheese, sweet tea, lemonade, and ice cream. Seeing the scale of production firsthand helped students connect the dots between agriculture, technology, and the supply chain that keeps grocery shelves stocked.
One of the highlights of the tour was meeting Mr. John, a longtime employee who shared stories from his years in the ice‑cream department. With a grin, he revealed his personal secret to crafting the perfect batch: using whole cookies—not crumbles—when making cookie‑based ice cream flavors. Students were fascinated by the blend of creativity and science behind each recipe.
The tour concluded with a tasting session featuring two ice cream flavors made right in the factory, giving students a delicious reminder of how agricultural products evolve from raw ingredients to finished goods. The experience offered a rich, real‑world look at the technology, safety protocols, and teamwork required to bring dairy products from plant to store shelves.
March in Closing
From livestock shows to leadership competitions, from industry tours to community outreach, March was a month filled with learning, achievement, and unforgettable experiences for Bok North FFA. Students strengthened their skills, represented their chapter with pride, and embraced every opportunity to grow as leaders.
With state competitions and spring events ahead, the chapter is excited to carry this momentum into April and beyond.
