Agriculture All Over the County
When most people think about FFA chapters from different schools, they probably think about competition. Whether it is competing against each other at Career Development Events, fighting for a state title, or even the classic high school rivalries, there is usually some friendly competition involved. However, here in Laramie County, Wyoming, seven FFA chapters put those rivalries aside each year for something much bigger.
For over 20 years, the Laramie County Cattle Women have hosted the Agricultural Expo, an event that brings fourth graders from across Laramie County together to learn about agriculture. This year, the event was held on September 15 and 16 and welcomed over 600 fourth-grade students.
Throughout the two days, students got to experience just how many different parts of agriculture there are. From learning how honey is harvested to discovering how agriscience plays a role in the industry, students had the opportunity to visit different stations and learn about things they might not normally get to experience within the classroom.
One thing that makes this event especially important is that it brings together students from both Laramie County School District #1 and Laramie County School District #2. While these two school districts don’t often have opportunities to work together, the Agricultural Expo gives them a chance to come together for two days and learn about something that impacts everyone.
But the collaboration doesn’t stop with the schools. All seven FFA chapters in Laramie County come together to help make this event possible. Members from Cheyenne Frontier FFA, High Plains FFA, Big Country FFA, Prairie View FFA, Horse Creek FFA, Burns FFA, and Pine Bluffs FFA all volunteered their time to help throughout the Expo.
FFA members had two main jobs during the event. Some members were responsible for leading groups of fourth graders from station to station, while others ran the stations themselves and taught students about different areas of agriculture. No matter which job they had, everyone played a part in making sure these students had a fun and educational experience.
Colton Wolski from Cheyenne Frontier FFA shared what it means to see all seven chapters come together for an event like this.
“I think that it’s just really beautiful to have the chapters working together to teach the next generation of agriculturalists,” Wolski said.
He also talked about how different the atmosphere is when members are working together compared to when they see each other at competitions.
“Most of the time when we see these kids from other chapters, we are rooted against each other, not only in FFA competitions, but also because of the classic high school rivalry,” Wolski said.
While those rivalries are part of what makes FFA fun, the Agricultural Expo is a reminder that everyone is working toward the same goal. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what chapter is bringing home the trophy or who placed first at a contest. What matters is that we are all working to promote agriculture and educate the people around us.
With nearly 650 students attending this year’s Expo, the impact reaches far beyond the two days of the event. These students are getting the chance to learn about an industry that affects their everyday lives, while FFA members are getting the opportunity to give back to the youth of the community and share something they are passionate about.
Sometimes, the biggest accomplishments in FFA don’t come from winning a contest or earning a state title. Sometimes, they come from putting the competition aside, working together, and showing the next generation what agriculture is all about.
