The Monticello FFA Chapter started off their year of activities with a fun night of games and food hosted by Mylin Bruhn, this year’s reporter for the FFA officers. Over 50 kids were present at the event and the two Monticello agriculture teachers, Elizabeth Rost, and Alicia Burge were both there to meet all the kids and supervise the event. Students could participate in a variety of yard games, such as cornhole, volleyball, crossnet, pickleball, and badminton.
“FFA kick off night is just a great way to start the year. You get to meet new members in FFA and play fun games,” stated Braden Robson, this year’s FFA chapter president, “I think that it’s a perfect way for new members to meet the officers and get comfortable talking to them and learn what FFA is about.”
FFA kick off night has been a long tradition for the chapter and has been a part of their activities to let members get acquainted.
“It was a really fun night and I liked hanging out with all of my fellow members. I feel like it was a good preview of the year to come in Ag,” said Rachel Ross, a sophomore member of the chapter.
The chapter also began the year with a field trip to the Farm Progress show in Decatur, Illinois to get members more involved and learn more about the world of agriculture. The field trip brought 26 lucky members for a day of free swag, fun facts, and no school. The Farm Progress show moves every other year between Boone, Iowa and Decatur, Illinois and invites people from over 50 countries to immerse themselves in the ever developing world of agriculture.
Two years ago many students at MHS experienced the show when they got to go and help work all different aspects of the show. Many other FFA chapters also participate in the show and visit when it is here in Illinois, allowing for lots of socializing between chapters and kids making new friends.
“I can’t speak for everyone that was at the Ag Show, but from the people that I have talked to it seems that they have learned a lot about our local and commercial agricultural businesses,” claimed Gavin Ridings, a senior and a Vice President for the FFA chapter, “Ag show is great in many ways in which it has so much to look at and you learn a lot and meet new people. All around I truly believe Ag Show was a big learner for our FFA students.”
The members of FFA hope to return to the Farm Progress show in 2025 and allow more students a chance at the fun opportunities to learn and engage with the world of farming. Those who do attend can expect a fun time with friends and learning a lot about an industry they may not think a lot about.
Brady Ball, Staff Writer
balbr26@sages.us
The Sage Informer 
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