The air was crisp at both ends of a bus ride to Harrisburg last Thursday morning when dozens of Tunkhannock FFA members and their adviser made their annual trip to the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
Story and photo by Rick Hiduk
(originally published in the Rocket-Courier)
After another year of steady growth, more than 30 members of the Tunkhannock High School FFA returned to Harrisburg on Jan. 9 for the 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show. In addition to exploring as many of the 24 acres of exhibits under one roof as possible, some of the students attended a presentation by Temple Grandin, a renowned livestock industry consultant who also advocates for those with autism.
“FFA Members enjoyed seeing the current trends highlighted at this year’s Farm Show and just having a great time being with friends for the day,” said THS ag teacher and FFA adviser Rob Gustin. “FFA is booming at Tunkhannock HS. We have over 50 members and doing many projects and participating in community service events.”
The numbers of ways in which Tunkhannock students can be involved in the FFA is also on the increase. The school has a greenhouse, a hen house with nine chickens producing eggs daily, and the school’s shop departments, like machining, carpentry, and metal fabrication have been integral to the ongoing evolution of the FFA.
THS sophomore Harrison Fenton, the son of Chris and Chrisey Fenton, is one many students involved in the restoration of a 1949 Farmall H tractor. Most recently, he related, “We’ve been reworking the carburetor and adjusting the belts.” The biggest challenges have been dealing with rust on the bolts and old parts, Fenton noted.
Fellow FFA member and THS senior Keegan Franko, the son of Luke and Karri Franko, is also one of the crew working on the tractor. He has also helped built community benches at the school.
According to Gustin, once the tractor is restored, it will be used for community projects and to teach tractor safety. “We are looking for sponsors and community coaches to help us with this project,” he stated. In the meantime, he added, “Our Green House Crew is itching to get started and looking through seed catalogs to determine what we are going to offer this year.” At the Farm Show, FFA members Carter Frear and Harrison Fenton purchased seeds to grow this spring.
Carter, a sophomore and the son of Mark and Hilary Frear, said that one of the biggest improvements to the greenhouse this past year was the addition of drip lines on a timer, “so we don’t have to go as often to water.”
The Tunkhannock FFA has also been expanding its engagement with the community. They participated in a Trunker Treat event in October, providing an “ag trunk” and offering free hayrides, and helping at the December food distribution at the high school. They are planning to conduct their meat bird project again in the spring.
“Support from Everyone in our high school, administration, and community is tremendous” Gustin maintained, citing Wyoming County resident Vic Cuppucci and the Wyoming County Farm Bureau as key supporters of projects this year.
Not all FFA projects are conducted at the school. THS junior Violetta Belles, daughter of Rayann Belles, helps with horses and enjoys riding at Green Acres Farm near Noxen. Her handling of equines is geared toward keeping them calm and focused. “You have to know that the horse has a mind of its own,” Violetta offered.
Emma Daubert, THS junior and daughter of Jen Sands and Jerry Daubert works with goats on her family farm. She works with goats to get them ready for shows, maintaining their diets and exercise and keep pests like worms, lice, and mites under control. Emma currently has five goats, including a pregnant doe that she expected to give birth within a week.
“There’s almost no limit to where FFA can take the students or where they can take the FFA,” said Gustin. “And our students are constantly exploring new options and sharing their knowledge and skills with others.”