October was a pretty busy month for the Freehold FFA! Between Leadership Experience and Development, the welcome back picnic, and the national convention in Louisville, KY, our chapter was keeping our members busy almost every week!
On October 8th Freehold FFA welcomed the freshmen in to the Animal and Botanical Sciences Program with our annual "Welcome Back Picnic". The members had pizza in the Freehold Township High School courtyard while reporter Sydney Gavinelli gave the members a quick lesson on improvisation. We played some ice breakers (and watched our advisor Mr. Ducey do the "worm") and kicked off our Big and Little program. Big and Little is something we do in Freehold FFA where each freshman gets matched with a junior or senior who in help the freshmen get comfortable in the program. Over all, everyone at the picnic had a great time and we enjoyed a beautiful day.
On October 11th and 12th our officer team and FFA members from all over the state of New Jersey went to the Leadership Experience and Development seminar, or LEAD, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Monroe. LEAD is run by the New Jersey state officer team and executive committee. The theme for this year's LEAD was "lost in cyberspace". The members learned how having good relationship building skills, being trustworthy, being deliberate, and collaborating can make us "agents of change" among our members and peers. The Freehold FFA won the Outstanding Officer Team Award, and our secretary Emily Karr won the Outstanding Pitch award for her short speech given before breakfast. The Freehold team also dressed up as pirates for the Halloween dance to fit our "Navigate the Blue and Gold" theme for the year.
Freehold FFA's senior class went to an apple gleaning with the Farmers Against Hunger on October 22nd. The Farmers Against Hunger have gleanings on farms all over the state, and all of the food that is picked goes to local food shelters. Within 2 and a half hours, our senior class picked over 4,000 pounds of apples that would have otherwise gone to waste. Great job, seniors!
Haunted High School was on October 23rd at Freehold Township High School. This year, Haunted High School featured a haunted wax museum, an outer space room, a haunted kitchen, a temporary tattoo station, and several other Halloween-themed activities. The FFA had a make-your-own paper bag pumpkin activity for the younger kids. The little kids who were there came in costume and had the opportunity trick-or-treat between rooms. The kids, as well as the FTHS students, all had a great time!
The 86th annual National FFA Convention was held in Louisville, Kentucky from October 30th to November 2nd. Matt Bonett participated in the National FFA band, Emily Karr competed in 6-8 minute Prepared Public Speaking, Rebecca Shannon worked the New Jersey State booth, and Sam Fitzgerald and Michaela Kramer were on Courtesy Corps. The National Convention broke its record of attendance with over 62,000 members and guests from all over the country in attendance. All of the members from Freehold agreed that it was an amazing experience.
With the year now in full swing, Freehold FFA is preparing for the month of November. The fall Career Development Events are in two weeks, and our Milk Quality and Products team, Land Judging team, Turf team, and Fruits and Vegetables team are all getting ready for their competitions! At the end of the month, we'll be kicking off the holiday season with our annual Thanksgiving Feast. We have a whole lot to look forward to!
Sydney Gavinelli
Freehold FFA Reporter
"Navigate the Blue and Gold"
