Heyworth FFA members provided a classroom lesson for elementary school students visiting the FFA Petting Zoo during National FFA Week. (Carrie Muehling/WJBC)

By Carrie Muehling

BLOOMINGTON – Area FFA chapters recognized National FFA Week in a variety of ways this week.

Several schools held petting zoos for elementary students, including Heyworth and Tri-Valley High Schools.

“We get to educate the kids on stuff they don’t see every day. It’s fun for them to be able to see different animals,” said Emma McKeon, a sophomore at Tri-Valley. “I think it’s just fun overall because they’re learning but it’s also a fun little activity that they get to take out of school and they get to do, which they don’t do every day.”

McKeon was on the halter of her seven-month-old calf, Quincy, as elementary students filtered in and out of the petting zoo on Thursday. Tri-Valley also offered an agriculture lesson and a greenhouse tour to the younger students.

Elementary school students in Heyworth had a similar experience on Wednesday. Heyworth Senior Shirley Estes said she has gained a great deal from her involvement in the organization.

“A lot of leadership skill is given to you through agriculture and that has definitely improved myself as a person. Before FFA, I was a very shy and quiet girl. I had trouble looking people in the eye, so I’ve definitely come a long way because of FFA. I’ve learned a lot of communication skills and that will certainly help me in the future,” said Shirley Estes.

Estes wants to go into business and she knows the skills she has developed in FFA will serve her well. Olympia High School senior Bryson Gottschalk of Armington feels the same way.

“You get so many opportunities to experience the new things that ag can provide because it’s a very broad spectrum. It’s not just farming and there are so many broad opportunities on what agriculture can do and it just kind of helped me to see what I can do other than farm,” said Gottschalk, who drove a tractor to school on Tuesday to highlight FFA at his school.

Area FFA chapters also planned dress up days and other activities throughout the week to celebrate FFA and the leadership opportunities available to young people through their participation in the organization.

Carrie Muehling can be reached at [email protected].