Barrington Middle FFA Chapter, Florida
The Barrington Middle FFA Chapter from Florida has been named the 2017 National Premier Chapter: Strengthening Agriculture winner at the 90th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis.
The National Chapter Award program recognizes outstanding FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. These chapters improve chapter operations using the National Quality FFA Chapter Standards and a Program of Activities that emphasizes growing leaders, building communities and strengthening agriculture. Chapters are rewarded for providing educational experiences for the entire membership.
Through “U-Pick, We Educate,” Barrington Middle FFA educated community members about strawberries, planting and harvesting times, and fertilizer effects. FFA members advertised this event by hanging flyers in local businesses to encourage others to participate. Because of the chapter’s advertising efforts, 38 community members came out to help FFA members pick strawberries while learning more about strawberry production. Through this event, students were able to educate others about the impact agriculture can have in an urban area.
Chapters eligible to compete for the National Premier Chapter: Strengthening Agriculture award demonstrate competency in doing innovative things or taking traditional concepts and applying a creative twist in the strengthening agriculture division of the chapter’s Program of Activities. Ten three-star chapters competed in a presentation and interview process for the top honor during this year’s national convention. Barrington Middle FFA received a plaque in an onstage ceremony during the convention’s second general session on Thursday, Oct. 26.
The National Chapter Award program is sponsored by John Deere.
The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 653,359 student members who belong to one of 8,568 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization is also supported by 344,239 alumni members in 2,051 alumni chapters throughout the U.S.