Sumner FFA Sprout Scouts pose for a photo in front of Sumner Daffodils.
For the last 100 years, the daffodil has been a staple to the Sumner, Wash., community, replacing the area’s quickly dying hop industry and creating a new type of celebration to the area. Today, Sumner is known for its beautiful daffodil fields, and the flower has become a symbol of hope, new beginnings and the arrival of spring.
It’s also the symbol of the annual Daffodil Parade, a vibrant event that takes place every spring. The parade brings the community together to celebrate the beauty of the flowers and the changing seasons with colorful floats, music and lively participation. The daffodil parade represents local culture and agriculture heritage, showcasing the pride Sumner residents take in their daffodil fields.
The Sprout Scouts
Enter the newest team for Sumner FFA: the Sprout Scouts! The team consists of individuals who are passionate about education and agriculture, and this year it decided to take these skills to the next level with presentations about the importance of the daffodil given to local elementary schools.
The Sprout Scouts pose with a second grade class from Maple Lawn Elementary.
“There is an alarming overall lack of agricultural education amongst elementary students. As a result, focus should be put on the education received about the agriculture industry in schools,” says Sumner FFA Committee Member Olivia Anderson. “Sumner FFA is eager to educate students about the life cycle of a daffodil and its importance to the Sumner community. We separated the lessons so they could learn information that best suited their age range.”
The Lessons
Sprout Scouts show the different phases of a daffodil through a unique photo.
Sumner FFA members developed hands-on lessons that go beyond just teaching students about daffodils. The activities include planting daffodil bulbs, understanding growth patterns, the life cycle of a daffodil and identifying the significance these flowers have within the local community. The lessons aim to spark curiosity in young minds about agriculture and their community.
“We wanted to give the students a tactile experience,” says Sumner FFA Advisor Maria Montoya. “By engaging with flowers in this way, we hope to instill an appreciation for agriculture that will last long after the lesson ends.”
The team will also present its educational program to judges during the 95th Washington FFA State Convention and Expo.
Sprout Scout students show off their daffodil art.
These chapter members plan to continue their lessons in the future. They also hope to eventually incorporate a broader range of agriculture topics in the coming years, with some of these members planning on going into careers related to agricultural education.
To discover more about the unique role daffodils play in the local area, visit thedaffodilfestival.org.
