Ag Olympics, staff breakfast mark Mansfield FFA Week

By Mike Maltais

Staff writer

MANSFIELD - A host of events will mark National FFA Week, Feb. 18-25 in Mansfield, as students put this year's motto: "Transform Purpose to Action" into play.

Mansfield Elementary students will get to participate in the fun with a coloring contest sponsored by the school's FFA group, said FFA advisor, Jamey Jo Steele.

A staff breakfast will get the day off to a nutritious start on Thursday, Feb. 23.

On Friday, Feb. 24, the Ag Olympics will feature a variety of events for all ages.

Events will include student relay races and something called the "Greased Pig" race, only without the pig. The object is to carry a greased watermelon across the gym, Steele explained.

Another event called "Pig Farmer" requires a contestant to "throw on overalls, toss a bale of hay in a wheelbarrow, drive it through a course, and take off the overalls," Steele said.

Then there is the "Pig Out" - eating a whipped cream pie, and one called "Pig Bath" where the object is to remove shaving cream from a balloon with a razor without popping it.

This year will mark the fourth year of the Mansfield Agriculture Education program and FFA "since I moved back home to Mansfield and re-established the program that had not been in existence since the early 90's," said Steele. "The program has seen wonderful growth over the past four years and this year has our biggest FFA membership totaling 18." 

Steele said her group got a great start at the District and State Apple Judging where she witnessed "huge improvements in students' abilities to decipher apple varieties, blemishes, insects and demonstrate their knowledge of pesticide safety."

This spring, Steele said she hopes to convince some of her freshmen to compete in the FFA Creed Speaking contest at the 87th State Convention in Pullman, May 11-13.

"Our chapter will also have numerous members compete in the Job Interview Contest," Steele said.

"Our biggest core project continues to be the development of our school farm, Steele said.

"During the summer of 2016 four FFA members raised their fair livestock projects, including three pigs and one goat, at the school farm."

Steele said her group will also compete in the Dairy Foods contest at the State Convention this year.

"We will begin practice for the competition on March 1," Steele said.