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Brantley High School’s FFA ended FFA week last Friday, Feb. 28, with their annual “Farm Day.” Agri-science teacher and school FFA director Mark Andrews led his students in the program, which allows FFA members and officers to welcome a series of elementary school classes to the agriculture building to learn about farming, the FFA, the wide-reaching influence and application of agricultural science and to see up close a variety of farm animals.

The FFA members had goats, horses, Silkie chickens, a turkey, a ferret and even a cat and dog to help entertain and educate the younger students.

Elementary students were able to walk through the building, see and sometimes even pet the animal and speak with FFA members to learn about them.

FFA officers Jayden Ramer and Meg Mount said the program is always successful at enshrining the FFA in the minds of young students.

“It’s the most popular thing we do… It’s kindergarten through 6^th grade, and some high school students come too. It helps the students to understand farm animals and helps with recruitment… It also helps younger students to understand the FFA isn’t just about farming, it’s about leadership…Most of us have no farming background,” they explained.

“It’s just something the kids will remember when they have the chance to join the FFA later,” the officers explained.

Following the tour of the “farm”, the FFA officers take each elementary class into the classroom to teach them about the FFA and agricultural science.

Brantley’s FFA is also active in several competitive fields. Their forestry and land judging teams are currently preparing for early-summer state competitions. The land judging team took 1^st in their district, while the forestry team won 2^nd in their division.