DHS FFA Week historic, ‘special’

National FFA Week was Feb. 16-24, and the Daleville High School FFA celebrated with activities, dress up days and recognition from the City of Daleville.

“We’ve definitely been trying to get everybody involved,” President Lauren Dorminey said, stating the organization held several dress up days and activities throughout the week. “We’ve had a lot of participation.”

Activities throughout the week included speaking to elementary students about FFA and hosting trivia events.

“Tuesday, we went to the elementary school,” Dorminey said. “We got to talk to the kids about what we do in FFA and what FFA really is because a lot of people (think) FFA stands for Future Farmers of America and (we) want to focus on the farming part, but we are a leadership organization; we’re the largest youth-led leadership organization.

“That’s really what I tried to express to the elementary school kids,” she said. “We’re the ones running the organization. We have advisors that give us guidance, that give us assistance, keep us on the right track, but we still plan (everything).”

Students were also encouraged to dress up during the week as a way to have fun and bring attention to the DHS FFA.

Tuesday was cowboy or farmer dress up day. Students were also encouraged to wear different hats, which Dorminey said was a favorite of the DHS students. Wednesday was America dress-up day, Thursday was college sports dress-up day and Friday was FFA day. On Friday, members were encouraged to wear FFA shirts or accessories, and students were encouraged to wear something blue or yellow.

The City of Daleville also joined in on the recognition of FFA Week, with Mayor Jayme Stayton signing a proclamation officially recognizing FFA Week in the city on Wednesday, Feb 20.

FFA officers were also recognized at the proclamation. Officers are Dorminey; Anenna Reynolds, vice president; Sierra Lindsey, secretary; Sean Henk, representative; Alex Peters, sentinel; and, Lauren Perkins, treasurer.

The National FFA Organization, first called Future Farmers of America, was officially founded in 1928. According to the organization’s website, it “is a dynamic youth organization that changes lives and prepares members for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.”

An FFA chapter was established in Dale County at Dale County High School in 1929. This first organization was highlighted in a book collected by the grandmother of current DHS FFA advisor Franky Jackson.

The DHS chapter of FFA was formed in 1980, according to Jackson. Alan Waters was the first advisor of the organization.

In the years since its formation, the organization has boasted several state awards, including a third place win in 1994 and first place win in 1995 in turf and landscape management by Randall Graham.

Adam Sconyers was also named the Alabama Future Farmer of the Year in 1997, and Beckie DeBruler served as sentinel for the National FFA Organization in 1988-89.

According to Dorminey, this year is a special year for women involved in FFA.

“One of the really great things about this FFA Week is it marks the 50-year mark of females being able to be a part of FFA, so there’s been stuff all over Facebook about that,” she said. “It’s really great for me because without that I wouldn’t be here right now.”

She said the FFA is a leadership organization that has helped her in several ways.

“FFA helps you a lot with your leadership skills,” she said. “Really and truly, I think being in FFA helps strengthen your leadership skills in anything else because you do learn how to work with people, you learn how to communicate with people.”

She was also proud to see the participation in FFA Week activities from others who are not members of the organization.

“(Their participation) means a lot, especially when I see my friends getting really involved,” she said. “That’s really what I wanted; that’s why I tried to do so much this week, and even though some things didn’t work out… we still got a lot done. We were able to get a lot of people involved, so it was great for me, especially being a senior this year. It’s my last year, and I wanted it to be special. It has been.”