News : FFA: We never stop, we just change seasons; summer activities keep us busy

Plant sales and work in the greenhouse continue through summer for VS FFA members.

This summer the Vinton Shellsburg FFA chapter has been busy busy busy right from the start!

Some things that took place earlier this summer were our plant sales, our garden group planting their garden, and our local floriculture contest. This year the horticulture class worked to plan our annual plant sales we have at the end of our school year. They hung flyers in school and around town, had it in our announcements, in the local paper, and even had shirts available to buy from the sale and for students. We sold a wide variety of annuals, perennials, and vegetables, as well as the shirts, cookies made by the foods class, and Vinton Popcorn. We had two sales and a clearance sale, and overall we did very well.

Garden project

The next thing that took place was members who joined the garden group getting together to decide what to plant and started planting the garden at our plot behind the school. They have spent many days during the summer planting, watering and weeding. They are growing a variety of tomatoes, peppers, onions, and many more. They hope to be able to pick the vegetables and sell them at the local Farmers Market.

Floriculture team

Lastly, was a first for our chapter. We had 7 girls who wanted to participate in state Floriculture. Unfortunately we can only take 4 members to state. So through the first week of summer all the girls came to school and practised every day, and when it was a week before contest we decided to have a local contest of our own. Mrs. Fleming and our new assistant Ms. Kirschbaum set up the ag room and prepared a contest similar to state. We participated in each of the categories and were scored as we would be at state. At the end of the day when everyone's scores had been recorded the top four girls were announced. Jessica Alderson, Emily Cashman, Hannah Seitz, and Sydney Walker were to go on to state at Kirkwood Community College to participate in the contest. Overall our chapter has had a very busy start to the summer, and we will continue to do so!

Emily Cashman

Co Reporter