Trip to FFA Leadership Conference spurs attention to needs in local schools; Gebel starts Ag Education program, and Winter Clothing Drive through Dec. 21
Ag Education in elementary schools, and much more ... Waukon High School senior Alaina Gebel stands with second grade students from West Elementary School in Waukon as they display one of their Ag Education projects during National Pork Month in October of this year. Gebel attended the Washington FFA Leadership Conference this past summer and is utilizing the skills she acquired at the Conference to bring Ag Education into elementary school classrooms, and she has also organized a winter clothing drive through the Little Switzerland FFA Chapter at Waukon High School that is taking donations at the Waukon High School and Middle School offices through December 21. Submitted photo
by Alaina Gebel
This past June, I had the privilege of attending the Washington FFA Leadership Conference. FFA members from across the nation traveled to Washington D.C. to learn about serving our communities, meeting new people, and touring the D.C. area.
FFA members attended sessions throughout the conference regarding advocating, setting goals, connecting with other FFA members, and leadership. The facilitators at the conference emphasized leadership and serving one’s community. Participants created an action plan to implement once they returned home.
Since my return from the Washington Leadership Conference, I have been hard at work trying to implement my community service projects. One of my main goals is to bring agriculture education into the elementary schools within our community.
Starting with October, National Pork Month, I visited the second grade classrooms at West Elementary School in Waukon. Students in the classrooms of Mrs. Liddiard, Mrs. Voight and Mrs. Christensen learned through hands-on activities and crafts that pigs have many roles in our everyday lives. From the food we eat to the everyday products that we utilize, pig by-products are everywhere. I plan to continue this project in the future with more engaging activities to help elementary students learn about the importance of agriculture in their lives.
I also work at the West Elementary after-school program. I can see that some of our students are in need of winter clothing for recess. However, some East Elementary and Waukon Middle School students are also in need of warm clothing.
Therefore, as the winter season approaches, the Little Switzerland FFA Chapter at Waukon High School is hosting a winter clothing drive to provide clothing for elementary and middle school students. The chapter and I are encouraging community members to bring hats, gloves, coats, boots, and other warm items to the middle and high school offices in Waukon. These items do not need to be brand new, used items are welcome. Every item will help benefit a child in need in our community. The deadline for providing clothing donations is December 21.
