Dateline: May 29, 2001 7:39 PM

Year End FFA Party...Caro Kauffman and Kimberly Connor

The year end FFA party was bitter sweet this year.  The students gathered at the Kauffman's home in Colleyville to enjoy another successful year together.  However, they can't help but wonder what will happen in the future.  

Caro, Jarrod, Kathleen and Kate enjoyed the bouncing tent at the end of year party.

The Future Farmers of America "FFA" is much more than most people understand.  The FFA was established in 1928 in Kansas City, Missouri.  In 1988, the official name was changed from Future Farmers of America to the National FFA Organization.  The FFA is structured on 3 levels - local, state and national.  Six national officers are elected annually and, along with a board of directors, act on recommendations from the national convention delegates and set operational policy for the FFA.  State associations function within the constitution of the national organization, but they may also create individual leadership, award, and contest programs.  As on the national level, state officers lead the membership of the associations, and are elected by the state convention delegates.  However, the heart of the organization is at the local level.  FFA chapters may be chartered in any public school with an agricultural education program.  There are currently 7,503 local chapters of the FFA with 447,880 members.  Leadership is provided by student officers elected each year and the agricultural instructor who serves as an advisor to guide the chapter. 

Left to right:  Jerry Eberly, Donna Kauffman and Kurt Kauffman

Left to right:  Jessica Steen, Whitney Sanders, Jarrod Eberly, Kathleen Davis, Caro Kauffman, Kirk Martin, Kate Grab, and Josh Jaggers

The FFA includes a degree program which rewards active FFA members for progress in all phases of leadership, skill, and occupational development.  The Greenhand FFA Degree and the Chapter FFA Degree are awarded at the chapter level.  State associations award top members with the State FFA degree which is the Lone Star Farmer degree in Texas.  The highest degree, the American FFA degree, is conferred on an elite group of members at the national level.  (The above information is located on the GCISD website.)

Molly Eberly, Jessica Steen, Whitney Sanders, Jarrod Eberly, Kathleen Davis, Caro Kauffman, Kirk Martin, Kate Grab, and Josh Jaggers

Kate Grab (Queen), Josh Jaggers (King), and Kathleen Davis (Sweethearth)

The school district has recently decided to cut the agriculture at Colleyville-Heritage High School because the numbers "weren't right".  

Caro Kauffman, Secretary, stated "Right now we are trying to let the public know what exactly the FFA is and that everyone should look into it." 

The Officers this year were:  Jarrod Eberly, President; Shelby Brock, Vice President; Caro Kauffman, Secretary; Jessica Steen, Reporter; Whitney Sanders, Treasurer; Neal McElaney, Sentinol; and David Clark, Chaplen.  The teachers this year were Bill Burton, Grapevine High School and Trey Dodson, Colleyville-Heritage High School.  

Enjoying the bouncing tent.

Whitney Sanders and Caro Kauffman enjoy sliding on the water mat.

When LNO contacted Mr. Burton regarding the status of the department for next year, he stated, "As far as I know, I will be teaching classes at both Grapevine and Colleyville-Heritage next year." 

Colleyville-Heritage High School administrators were unavailable for comments. 

This year at the Tarrant County Jr. Livestock Show in March, the Grapevine-Colleyville FFA placed in numerous categories.  

Caro Kauffman received the highest county award possible.  Her hanging basket placed 1st in the category "Flowering Hanging Basket" then went on to receive the honor of Grand Champion.  She won a total of $1,500.00.  

Neal McElaney also placed in the "Poultry" division earning $550.00.   

In the "Wether Goats" division, Jammi Gawrys placed 2nd, Renni Gawrys placed 7th, Justin Mullenix placed 11th, and Shelby Brock placed 10th.  Together they earned $3,400.00.

Kirk Martin placed 4th in the "Steers" division bringing in a total of $2,000.00.

Tara Hazelwood (2nd), Jarrod Eberly (4th), Jessica Steen (6th), and Brandon Owens (6th) all placed in the "Lambs" division.  Together they totaled $3,600.00.

The FFA Moto is:

If you would like additional information regarding the GCISD FFA department, please visit their website at http://www.gcffa.org/index.html.

(Photos courtesy of LNO, Caro Kauffman and Grapevine-Colleyville FFA Department.)