WAUPUN — National FFA week is coming up on February 16 through 22, which will include several events in the Waupun community.
Future Farmers of America (FFA) is a national youth leadership organization with an emphasis on agriculture and student success. The FFA accomplishes this through work in agriculture classes, leadership and career-based competitions, and hands-on applications on the job.
The FFA started in 1948 to honor George Washington’s legacy as a farmer and agriculturist, recognizing his significant contributions to the field and serving as a symbol of leadership within the agricultural community. In National FFA Week, chapters around the country celebrate this as a time to share what FFA is and the impact it has on members every day.
National FFA Week — February 16-22.
Sunday – SAE Sunday – Celebrating Supervised Agricultural Experiences.
Monday – Day of Service – FFA motto is “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.”
Tuesday – Alumni Day – Celebrating and thanking the previous members of FFA and the Alumni who currently work to benefit our current members.
Wednesday – Advisor Appreciation Day – Giving thanks to those mighty owls that work so hard to impact and improve the lives of millions of students.
Thursday – Give FFA Day – On Give FFA Day, every gift counts! The Waupun Area FFA Chapter will be hosting our Thank a Farmer night at Culver’s from 5 to 8PM.
Friday – Wear Blue Day – What does your FFA jacket mean to you?
FFA is a national organization of over 1 million members including the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. It is the most well-known organization for agricultural education from its many contests, awards, leadership development conferences, and programs. FFA offers opportunities to develop life and career skills as well as incentivize programs that encourage student excellence in the class and SAE components. Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE), Leadership Development Events, and career development events are what make FFA students stand out.
“As state FFA officers, our team will be traveling across the beautiful state of Wisconsin to events that support the community, bring people together, and benefit everyone involved,” Wisconsin FFA vice president Abel Kooima said in a statement.
Waupun alumni Abel Kooima was recently elected vice president to the Wisconsin FFA, having been involved in the organization since Junior High. In this position he’s visited many communities and schools to promote the FFA and what they do for local communities.
Kooima has been interested in agriculture since he was a kid working on his uncle’s mink farm. Throughout his time at the Waupun Area Junior/Senior High School he learned from Tari Costello and Kris Beaver, who got him involved with the FFA. Throughout his high school career he began to attend FFA events throughout the state which inspired him to become an FFA state officer.
“I thought it was a really unique opportunity, to travel and work with students to work on their life and help them make improvements in any way possible,” Kooima said.
Last June he attended the state FFA convention where he was voted in as vice president by the student-led voting body, and represents Section 6 of the Wisconsin FFA, which covers about 28 local schools including Waupun, Markesan, Oakfield, Ripon, and Fall River. There are five “vice president” positions on the FFA board.
“Especially for Waupun, coming from here and being in this amazing community, it helped me get connected,” he said. “For those who aren’t interested in agriculture, I work at the Waupun Fire Department, and I’ve worked with REACH Waupun—and that wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t understood what a community impact is, which I learned through the FFA, and I keep working on that every day.”
Kooima visited the Waupun High School agrictulture classes back in September, teaching them about the various FFA programs and what it means to be a future farmer of America.
“I have had so much fun learning from, working with and getting to know the new Waupun Area FFA Chapter Advisors, Ms. Schwanke and Ms. Hockerman!” Kooima said. “Great things are continuing to happen through the transition of teachers and I am so excited to see what the future holds!”
