Giving Back at the Rodeo
In Calhoun County, Ala., small cities are making a big impact. Once a year, seven schools from around the county come together to bring a little bit of joy to special education students.
The day before a rodeo event, these seven schools (Alexandria, Saks, White Plains, Wellborn, Pleasant Valley, Ohatchee and Weaver High Schools) host the “Calhoun County Special Needs Rodeo.” During this event, special education students from schools around the county come out to the rodeo site for a day of education and fun.
A Word From the Volunteers
“It feels great to give back,” says Gianluca Torres, a Weaver High School FFA officer. “I’ve been helping with this event since the first year, and I look forward to it every October.”
The schools started this event in 2022 and haven’t looked back since. “We get to do something good for other people,” says FFA officer Bailey Hodges. “The smiles on these kids’ faces makes it all worth it.”
Planning and Executing
About 80 people help run the event itself, but at least 100 people are involved in setting up the event and the rodeo. The FFA chapters set up several agriculture-focused stations for participating students to interact with and experience hands-on activities. These stations include pumpkin painting, a photo booth and the “Ag in Action Trailer” provided by the Farmers Federation.
Each year, these FFA chapters embody the FFA motto through “Living to Serve.”
