When the Willamina FFA chapter returned from the FFA National Convention they were feeling amped up and ready to get started on winter projects.  Here are just a few activities that have happened in the past week; Ag sales, Oregon FFA State Officers Leadership Tour, and preparing for the annual food drive known as “Food For All.”

November 14^th Sonja Clark, Taylor Hendricks, Nolan Smith and Mitchell Clark travelled to Portland, Canby and Sherwood to contact suppliers for the Food For All.  Students gave information about what schools and students were doing to prepare, package and distribute produce to make this year’s food drive a success. 

The Willamina FFA Chapter attended the Ag sales career development event on November 16th. The advanced team from Willamina was Nolan Smith, Sierra Hawley, Sonja Clark, and Hannah Clark. Nolan Smith placed 7^th individually. The advanced team placed 3rd, and movies on to compete at the state competition December 10, in Dayton. This is the first time in many years that Willamina has qualified for the state Ag Sales CDE.  The beginning team of, Nathan Johnson, Leann Rogers, Shania Hall, and Mariah Woodward placed 4th. Nathan Johnson was the 9^th high individual.

On November the 17^th the Willamina FFA chapter hosted two of the FFA state officers, President Ryan Kelly, and Secretary Grace Wildhaber. They started off by having a hardy breakfast at Coyote Joes, where the students “Picked their brains” as Mr. Whitman would say. The Willamina Officer team was very thankful for their visit; it gave many of them ideas to increase membership, new ideas for fundraisers, and community service projects. Then the officers went to the school and taught many of the Willamina High School students about opportunities the FFA offers and the importance of leadership. They also talked about world issues such as hunger and showed us an online game that donates rice to struggling people. If you would like to play this game and help prevent hunger around the world go to Freerice.com

The Willamina FFA chapter is an active participant in the prevention of hunger by participating in the annual Food For All food drive. The Food drive was started fourteen years ago by Kirk Hutchinson at Perrydale High School when he received 1,000 pounds of potatoes from Kettle Chips. Now the food drive involves: Amity, Dayton, Perrydale, Sheridan, Willamina, & Yamhill-Carlton schools.  In 2010, 210,000 pounds of produce was packaged and shipped to families throughout Oregon. The largest delivery goes all the way down to Coos Bay, where 800 families receive 40 lbs of produce per family.  A 53 ft truck, donated by Ruan Trucking, is loaded at Perrydale School and will depart December 16^th, with a stop at Newport and them on to Coos Bay.  Produce is delivered all around Oregon as the network continues to grow.  The Marion Polk Food Share receives any produce that is available after all adopted families and food banks are delivered to.  Students hope to take a bus of participating school FFA partners to deliver to the Knights of Columbus in Coos Bay, who is our largest partner.

During the food drive many chapters invite their whole school to help package the produce.  At Willamina high school, FFA members work in cooperation with elementary classes to bag the produce. This is a great activity that unites our community and students. Willamina FFA invites you to come join us December 7^th through the 9^th and December12^th through the 15^th from 8:00 AM to 3:30PM.  If you are interested in donating or helping supervise the packaging of produce, please contact Roy Whitman at 503-687-1798 or 503-876 2545 and ask for the Ag shop or type in extension 2798 and leave a message in the Ag Room.  Mr. Whitman’s cell phone number if you are in dire emergency is (971) 237-2057. We hope to see you soon!

FFA members are cutting trees for the annual Christmas tree sale.  This year trees will be available at two locations, Coastal Hills Reality and Brookside Farm (former Berry Creek location) just west of Fort Hill Restaurant. If you would like to help with our tree sales here Is the address, Brookside Farms, 26033 Hwy 18, Grand Ronde, OR 97347 and please call (503) 879-1102 if you can help.

The Willamina FFA thanks you for all of your support and hopes you and your families have a happy Holiday Season!

Marisa Mode