National FFA Week: Meadow Heights FFA: 45 years strong

Meadow Heights FFA Chapter was founded in 1979. And 45 years later in 2024, the chapter includes 84 members, making it "one of the largest youth organizations in Bollinger County," according to Meadow Heights FFA advisor Sarah Yamnitz.

Congress passed the Smith-Hughes National Vocational Education Act of 1917, Yamnitz said, which allows for intracurricular instruction of FFA within the public school classroom.

"This is why it is required to be in an agriculture class to be a part of FFA," she said.

Meadow Heights FFA Chapter is involved in a variety of learning activities inside and outside of the classroom — from community service and speaking competitions to livestock judging contests and conventions.

The classroom provides a variety of learning opportunities, Yamnitz said, ranging from welding, ag mechanics, woodworking, livestock science, vet tech, floriculture, soil science, plant science, entomology, food science and leadership.

Junior member Kale Cook and senior members Hunter Mayfield, Aiden Mayfield and Wyatt Hamlin process meat birds.Courtesy of Sarah Yamnitz

"We have had 18 students be awarded the American FFA degree, 44 awarded their state FFA degree, and hundreds have received their chapter and greenhand degrees," she said. "Our first star greenhand (exemplary first-year student) was Dennis Mouser in 1981, and the most recent was John Bollinger in 2023. We have had two students as state star farmers: Tate Kiefer and Lydia Whaley."

Current Meadow Heights FFA officers are senior Rylee Shelton, president; senior Madisen Denman, vice president; junior Leah Carlson, secretary; junior Trae Yamnitz, treasurer; senior Rachael Hellebusch, chaplain; junior Lauren Strong, historian; junior Andrea Welker, reporter; and sophomore John Bollinger, sentinel.

The chapter is gearing up for a week full of activities in celebration of National FFA Week, Feb. 17 to 24.

Colter Eck and Madeline Cook, sophomore members, make cornhole boards.Courtesy of Sarah Yamnitz

• Tuesday, Feb. 20: Teacher appreciation breakfast at 7:30 a.m.; dress up for 'Merica Day; and chapter cornhole competition after school.
• Wednesday, Feb. 21: Food for America Day, where FFA members educate elementary students about sectors of agriculture and host a petting zoo; dress up like a farmer for Farmer Day: and Area 15 cornhole competition at 5 p.m. at Oak Ridge.
• Thursday, Feb. 22: Tractor Day; wear FFA jacket or blue and gold.
• Friday, Feb. 23: Dress up for FFA Apparel Day; drive-through fish fry from 3:30 to 7 p.m.; purchase tickets in advance or pay upon arrival; $15 for adult meal which includes four pieces of fish, two sides, dessert and drink; $8 for child's meal (ages 5 to 12), which includes two pieces of fish, one side, dessert and drink; sides include ribbon fries, potato salad, macaroni and cheese, baked beans and slaw.