With the help of Shattuck FFA senior member Avery Quisenberry, Shattuck kindergarten student Westin Burns practices giving shots at the vet science station while wearing his ear notched headband.
The FFA motto shows what is important to the organization. The Shattuck FFA Chapter in Shattuck, Okla., recently came together to live to serve. These members believe the best way to do that is by putting a love for agriculture in the hearts of younger students.
Their main focus was to serve the Shattuck elementary schools. Members planned the first Ellis County Fair Teach Ag to Elementary event at their local fairgrounds. The goal of the event was to teach kids about the importance of agriculture and have some fun.
Six stations were set up that the kids rotated through. Five of the stations were led by FFA members, and one of the stations was taught by Shattuck agriculture teacher Chris Kelln, with help from other FFA members. The six stations were cattle branding, ear notching, meat identification, food science, vet science and agricultural mechanics. The elementary students took turns at each station, where they learned about these different aspects of agriculture.
The point of these stations was to teach elementary students about the importance of agriculture. Student Greysan Havel had previously wanted to be a semitruck driver when he grew up. When he left this event, however, he had enjoyed the agricultural mechanics station. He started telling everyone that when he grows up, he wants to be a welder. Havel’s plans may change as he grows up, but for now, he is truly interested in agriculture. Eight years from now, when he starts his FFA journey on the first day of eighth grade, he will have an interest in agriculture that stemmed from this event.
One thing that helped elementary students like Havel enjoy this event was the FFA members who were leading stations. These members were also Shattuck High School football, basketball, baseball and cheerleaders. Multiple teachers in the food science station had cooked dinner for the Oklahoma State University softball team. The member who led the agricultural mechanics station built a 22-foot gooseneck hydraulic tilt trailer that was on display at the event.
These members are legends among the elementary students, and when the students got to sit at a table with them and listen to them teach, they were ecstatic. These high school FFA members taught about their agriculture-focused interests, but it made a lasting impression on the elementary students.
