In 2018, Wessington Springs High School underwent a major remodel. The renovation included creating a long hallway that leads to the agriculture department housing Wessington Springs FFA, says advisor Brady Duxbury.
“I looked at those blank walls and thought, ‘We can do something cool with this,’” he says.
Thanks to funding from a South Dakota Revitalization Grant and creativity from both Duxbury and Wessington Springs FFA alumna Kenzee Schafer, the once-plain walls now tell a story about the chapter’s history and involvement in FFA.
Schafer, who graduated from Wessington Springs High School in 2021, volunteered her time and talents to help the mural come to life. She completed the mural as part of her senior internship project at Mitchell Technical College, and now works full-time as a mural artist within the state.
“I’ve done art for most, if not all, of my life,” Schafer says. “I began painting murals at age 13, and I enjoyed my time as an FFA member. When Mr. Duxbury asked me to help with this project, it was easy to say yes.”
As you enter the hallway, you’re greeted with the first paragraph of the FFA Creed. Because many FFA members learn and memorize the Creed at the beginning of their time in FFA, Duxbury wanted to make sure it was incorporated into the mural.
“The Creed is something I think each person can take to heart and carry with them throughout the rest of their life,” he says. “It’s the first thing our members see, so I think it sets the tone for their time in our program and beyond.”
A portion of the mural highlights several career development events (CDEs) and leadership development events (LDEs) Wessington Springs FFA members participated in throughout the years. Schafer was a national qualifier in the floriculture CDE, and Duxbury says his chapter helped develop the rangeland judging CDE in South Dakota.
“For this section, I was able to use a stencil for the lettering and included an icon that represents each contest,” Schafer says. “As I was painting — and even after I finished — I watched as members recognized and connected with different contests due to their experiences in FFA.”
According to Duxbury, the Wessington Springs agriculture program has a rich history. It was established in 1916, before the Smith-Hughes Act (also referred to as the National Vocational Education Act) was passed in 1917 and the National FFA Organization (then known as the Future Farmers of America) was founded in 1928.
“Our program has been around for a long time,” he says. “The sense of pride I have seen in our students and community is amazing. This mural is a testament to what [the program] stands for and where it’s going.”
Before members reach the doors to the agriculture mechanics shops, the mural concludes with a large FFA emblem.
“One of the conditions of receiving the grant was it needed to promote FFA,” Schafer says. “Although Wessington Springs High School’s colors are also blue and gold, the emblem helped to accomplish this. Along with the Creed, it creates a focal point and bookend that frames the mural from start to finish.”
In September, Wessington Springs FFA hosted a Celebration of Agriculture event at the school. The event was a collaborative effort between the chapter and 4-H, the Jerauld County Pioneer Museum and the Western Heritage Center, Duxbury says.
“The event was a culmination of the success of this mural and our community’s deep and treasured history with agriculture,” he adds. “We celebrated the past, present and future of the industry in Wessington Springs. Everyone walked away happy, energized and ready to take on the next step of our community’s adventure.”
