The Portales FFA Chapter, including the volunteers from the day at the fair.
Portales FFA is impacting their community through social outreach and personal development. Chapter members helped create a “Special Needs Day” at the Roosevelt County Fair last August.
Jerry Favor, the chapter’s advisor, said the chapter officer team also helped. The team consists of Madison Miller (president), Gloria Terrazas (vice president), Madison Strange (secretary), Tegan Hardin (treasurer) and Collin Skinner (sentinel). “This is an annual event and the second year that we have participated in the program. We plan to continue this tradition and pour into our community as much as possible,” Favor said.
The day provided many activities, such as a milking and roping demonstration, an arts and crafts table, lunch, and a special needs goat show. “We get there an hour before the event to fill goodie bags, help prepare for the milking demonstration along with making pens for the petting zoo, the show goats and sheep provided by the Logan FFA chapter,” Favor said.
Favor outlined the process by which the chapter plans the event. “To be most efficient, we tend to split into groups, with Madison, Tegan and Collin helping with the roping demonstration along with teaching the participants the basic necessities of roping,” Favor said. “Gloria and Madison ran and operated the fake tattoo station, ensuring the special needs kids had a boost of confidence throughout their day.”
The goat show utilizes volunteers from the chapter, too. The volunteers include Riley Howard, Knox Belew, Klayt Hamilton, Trypp Hamilton and Brandon Webster. “Once the Roosevelt County Goat Show came to a conclusion, it was time for the special needs goat show. All volunteers had to help, including show kids from the Portales FFA Chapter,” he said.
Favor says the day is highly rewarding. “The most rewarding part of this day had to be the excitement on each kid’s face,” he said.
