Mapleton Mail

Upcoming National FFA Week

National FFA Week is approaching fast. The annual celebration will occur on February 19th through February 26th. FFA chapters around the country will celebrate. The Olympia FFA Chapter plans to be able to celebrate very similar to how they were able to pre-COVID! The celebration will consist of an all-school assembly, dress up days, events, and much more. The National FFA encourages FFA members everywhere to participate in their schools, in-person somewhere else, on social media, or wherever they have access to celebrate. The National FFA describes the purpose of the week by stating, “It’s a time to share what FFA is and the impact it has on members every day.

Throughout the week, the National FFA dedicates three of the days as special days. First is Tuesday, February 22nd, which is Alumni Day. The purpose of Alumni Day is to “celebrate the key role FFA Alumni and Supports play in student and chapter success”. Thursday, February 24th is Give FFA Day. The National FFA encourages giving to FFA to support students and chapters. The organization is very beneficial to the students involved. They help students grow their leadership skills, professionalism, and communication while giving those students a community environment to thrive in. The last day specifically dedicated to something is Friday, February 25th. Friday is Wear Blue Day, where people are encouraged to wear blue to show FFA pride. 

Regardless of if an FFA member is celebrating in-person or online, National FFA wants to give all members the opportunity to join together to raise awareness of FFA and advocate for agriculture. Here is the schedule for how members are encouraged to advocate each day. Starting on Saturday the 19th, National FFA wants members to post how their chapter will be celebrating FFA week. For Olympia FFA members, they could post about how they get to celebrate in-person with the whole student body again! Sunday the 20th is for sharing a photo and your SAE story. Monday the 21st is for sharing what your chapter is doing to serve your community. Tuesday the 22nd is for connecting with an FFA alumni who inspires you and telling them why they inspire you. Wednesday the 23rd is for sharing how an ag teacher or advisor has impacted your life. Thursday the 24th is to ask friends and family to give to FFA. Friday the 25th is for posting a selfie wearing blue for Wear Blue Day. The week will wrap up with Saturday the 26th and sharing photos from your FFA Week celebration.

Tractor Supply Company works with FFA throughout National FFA Week by showing their support with Grants for Growing. All of FFA Week, when you visit your local Tractor Supply Store you can purchase a $1 paper emblem at checkout. All proceeds made from the emblems benefit Grants for Growing. Grants for Growing (G4G) is “a competitive grant program for middle and high school FFA chapters that are developing and improving project-based or experiential learning opportunities for students”. An FFA chapter can apply for up to $5,000 through the program, which is sponsored by Tractor Supply Company. The funding of Grants for Growing supports three different areas for grant winners. The three areas are “Grow Your Classroom”, “Grow Your FFA Chapter”, and “Grow Your Ag Awareness”. 

National FFA Week is a great opportunity for the FFA community to get together and celebrate all that FFA has to offer. It is an opportunity to encourage supporting communities, members, and agriculture in general. It will be exciting to see all of the ways that FFA chapters around the country are celebrating. On social media, follow along with #FFAWeek to see all of the events and celebrations happening!