This summer was one for the books for our Fort Frye FFA members! From leadership development to hands-on ag experiences, our members stepped out of their comfort zones, gained new skills, and created memories that will last a lifetime. Here’s a look back at all we accomplished and experienced during our summer break so far.
Our summer kicked off with an unforgettable week at Ohio FFA Camp Muskingum or else known as the happiest place on dirt. Our members enjoyed outdoor recreation, including kayaking and fishing, while building friendships and developing their leadership potential. From team-building activities to campfire reflections, the week was full of personal growth and pure fun. The experience reminded them all why camp is truly the happiest place on dirt. Next, three of our chapter officers, Kallie Boley, Parker Burris, and Hannah Weiker, traveled to Washington, D.C. for the Washington Leadership Conference, where they spent five life-changing days focused on leadership, service, and advocacy. From inspiring sessions and group activities to emotional reflections and national monument tours, WLC pushed these students to think deeper about how they can serve their communities. Highlights included, creating a Living to Serve Plan focused on addressing our community needs, touring iconic landmarks such as the Lincoln Memorial, MLK Jr. Memorial, and the Library of Congress, and writing heartfelt letters to their future selves and growing their confidence and leadership abilities side by side. The biggest highlight definitely was helping to pack over 65,000 meals for families experiencing food insecurity. Their journey was capped off with a strong sense of purpose and a renewed passion to make a difference at home.
Lastly, FFA members Alyssa White and Mollie Lang represented our chapter at the Ohio Farm Bureau’s Explore Ag Camp, gaining real-world agricultural insights through a week packed with hands-on experiences and industry visits. Some of their highlights included, working with livestock and crops at Wilmington College, including administering vaccinations and trimming sheep hooves, visiting Nutrien to learn about fertilizer production and formulation, touring the Bob Evans processing facility to better understand the pork industry, exploring career paths and internships at Bane Welker, and touring the world-renowned World Equestrian Center, and lastly, watching an Amazon cargo plane land at Wilmington Air Park so it could change from a passenger plane to a cargo airplane. Their week dove deep into agricultural careers, showing just how broad and exciting the industry can be, all while building new friendships.
We couldn’t be more proud of our members who took full advantage of these incredible summer opportunities. Each of them has brought back knowledge, stories, and inspiration that will strengthen our chapter and our community over the next year. Thank you to everyone who supported our students this summer. The future of agriculture and leadership is bright! We are looking forward to this school year to see all the things we can accomplish as a chapter!