North Scott FFA hosts a variety of agricultural literacy events throughout the year. The chapter’s newest event, a “Tractorcade,” brought the farm straight to elementary students in their Eldridge, Iowa, community.
“I challenged members to think of ways to make Drive Your Tractor to School Day more than just parking a tractor in the parking lot,” says Jacob Hunter, North Scott FFA advisor. “We’re a non-traditional school with a variety of students, so I wanted this to be a learning opportunity for our students and others in the community.”
During National FFA Week each February, FFA members nationwide celebrate by driving their tractors to school. This year, however, eastern Iowa’s unpredictable winter weather made the event potentially unsafe for North Scott FFA. Instead of canceling, Hunter moved the event to National Ag Day on March 19, 2024.
North Scott FFA members added a fun and educational twist to Drive Your Tractor to School Day.
The Tractorcade featured six tractors driven by North Scott FFA members to local elementary schools. After the tractors were parked, members read agricultural books to the classes and encouraged students to sit in the tractors for a photo.
Members prepared by selecting books featured on the National Ag Literacy Foundation list, confirming reading levels with elementary teachers and reviewing the books’ content with local producers.
“Some of the students had never seen a tractor up close before,” says Sawyer Gravert, one of the chapter leaders who organized the event. “A lot of them were excited to climb around in the cab and check out the view from the driver’s seat.”
Alongside Gravert, Cole Wessel, a past North Scott FFA Chapter president, worked on public outreach for the event. Wessel spoke with news stations and created press releases, which contributed to earned media in the community and encouraged new students to begin taking agriculture classes.
“Our school district has a continuum of agricultural literacy in the classrooms thanks to our partnership with Scott County Farm Bureau and Ag in the Classroom,” Hunter says. “The Tractorcade provided an opportunity for elementary students to get special hands-on experience with pieces of equipment they’ve learned about through SCFB and our classroom workshop.”
The Tractorcade event provided participating students with an up-close, hands-on look at tractors.
If your chapter is looking to add agricultural literacy events to your Program of Activities, North Scott FFA recommends checking the education standards for the classes you’re visiting.
“Once the standards are in front of us, our leadership team has a lot of fun deciding what activities to do with students,” Wessel says. “We’ve learned they learn the most when they’re engaged and having fun with hands-on tasks.”
Advance Your Advocacy Skills
Complete the National FFA Advocacy Experience online modules to learn how to better connect with elementary students, peers, community members and elected officials.
