West Rowan FFA members Thurman Floyd, Grayce Moore, Mollie Sullivan, Avery Jenkins, Melanie Greer, Emry Starnes, Morgan Davis, Reagan Helmbold, Virginia Walser, Savannah Meadows and Isaiah Leonard host their chapter’s annual Drive Your Tractor to School Day.
Do you like to practice giving, serving or celebrating during National FFA Week? The West Rowan FFA Chapter hosted a number of these exciting events throughout its North Carolina county to raise awareness about agriculture and foster connections with local community members.
With a primary goal to increase student involvement, West Rowan FFA sought to highlight the essential role everyone plays in agriculture.
“We hope to inform students that agriculture is very prominent within our county,” says West Rowan FFA President Isaiah Leonard. “You don’t have to come from an agricultural background to get involved and make a positive difference in your community.”
The initial planning stages helped officers and members gather information and ideas to help them reach their goal of increased participation. “We allow members to give input on what they think would be fun for us to do,” Leonard says. “The planning begins once we all agree on the activities and events we want to do throughout the week.”
Thurman Floyd showcases his tractor on Drive Your Tractor to School Day at West Rowan High School.
After receiving feedback, West Rowan FFA created an impressive lineup of opportunities for FFA and community members to indulge in food, games and serving others around them.
Members also assigned different themes for students to participate in through their apparel. These included a camo day, blue and gold day and even “dress like an advisor” day. Other entertainments offered at the school were a duck hunt and Drive Your Tractor to School Day.
Dillan Mills (left) and Kaden Harris (right) stand in front of their tractor.
To fuel members’ passion for serving, the chapter invited them to design Valentine’s Day cards for a local nursing home. A teacher’s snack cart was also available for staff to help themselves.
Plus, the chapter took time to appreciate its alumni and supporters through a dinner served by FFA members. This event amplified the chapter’s gratitude for the support it receives and acknowledged those who built the foundation for members to build upon.
West Rowan FFA members Emry Starnes, Isaiah Leonard, Reagan Helmbold, Caleb Kimbrough, Savannah Meadows, Virginia Walser, Mollie Sullivan and Avery Jenkins prepare to serve at the alumni and supporters dinner.
On Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, West Rowan FFA members traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina’s state capitol, to attend the biannual FFA Legislative Day event. After a breakfast with 160 other FFA members and advisors, attendees heard from a committee of representatives, including Jimmy Dixon, Howard Penny and Kyle Hall. They received input from these representatives about how to become active in their community through advocating for important matters.
After taking a picture in front of the capitol building, the chapter met with Sen. Carl Ford. The day allowed members to network with policy-making officials and build on their knowledge of how to make an impact in agriculture. They applied these skills throughout the rest of FFA Week, continually advocating for agriculture and expressing the values represented by the National FFA Organization.
Madeline Wilhelm, Thurman Floyd, Virginia Walser, Sen. Carl Ford, Reagan Helmbold, Melanie Greer and Caleb Kimbrough.
Above all, West Rowan FFA aims to make FFA Week something students and community members will look forward to in the future.
“It is a time of year to reflect on how agriculture has advanced and improved throughout the years,” Leonard says. “We can connect with our community and identify the needs within it. We always try our hardest to help with those needs in whatever way we can.”
