Penn Yan FFA member Jaxon Jensen serves apple cider.
Ten years ago, Penn Yan FFA advisor John Krise was offered two boxes of unwanted apples from a local business. Not willing to let perfectly good apples go to waste, Krise accepted them. Now, his problem was what to do with these apples.
Krise could never eat them all; even if he shared them with the entire chapter, some would still go to waste. He then remembered he had an old-fashioned cider press sitting in storage and decided to teach his food science class about the art of making apple cider.
That would surely use all the apples, right? Wrong. After all the apples were pressed, there was more cider than the students and Krise could use. So, Krise invited several elementary school classes to visit, learn about cider making and take home some free cider.
It was a massive success; the students loved it, and the teachers asked if it would happen again the following year. So, the tradition of Cider Day was born.
Penn Yan FFA Vice President Colt Walters teaches students about honey production.
Although Krise retired in 2018, the Cider Day tradition lives on. The current FFA advisor, Carlie Bossard, has expanded the event. “Although the name still reflects the original purpose, today it is so much more,” Bossard adds.
Cider Day takes place in the fall and is the most attended event by high school FFA members and more than 600 elementary students each year. Last year’s event included stations where students could learn about maple syrup, cheese, animal care, soil horizons, honeybees and, of course, cider making. This event helps FFA members to make connections with younger students at their school.
This tradition is an example of how American agriculturists can take an unexpected opportunity and turn it into an impactful tradition. Penn Yan FFA members hope sharing this story will encourage other FFA chapters to plan more events with elementary students.
After all, FFA members are the future of America, but elementary students are the future of FFA.
