Throughout the summer the McClave FFA chapter was busy working on several different projects. In addition to moving into a new Ag shop, the chapter also had a new advisor and Ag teacher, participated in the Bent County fair, and the chapter officers took a trip to the sand dunes to build team leadership.
Ashley Hudson, from Hotchkiss Colorado, is the new FFA advisor and Vocational Agriculture teacher for McClave. Hudson student taught under Mr. Thorn last year. Many challenges have been thrown her way as a brand new teacher and she has taken them on in stride. Ms. Hudson has brought many new ideas into McClave to advance the chapter in many ways.
Near the end of the school year last year, the new Ag shop for McClave was well in the works near completion. The new shop and classroom is located where the old gym on the south side of the school previously was. After many hours put in by Ms. Hudson and several chapter members, the new classroom and shop is halfway moved into and looks great. By the end of the school year the new shop and classroom will be fully functional, organized, and useable. Also, the old Ag shop will be transformed into a new preschool in the future.
The middle of the summer not only brought heat to southeast Colorado, it also signaled the time for the annual chapter officer retreat. This year the officers headed to the Great Sand Dunes National Park near Alamosa. While the officers enjoyed the dunes and many fun activities they also discussed the years agenda and what the chapter as a whole needs to accomplish for the 2009-2010 year. The set theme for the school year is “Climbing toward the top, on a quest for success.” to represent the new beginning and changes the chapter can use to build off of for success. The officer team is excited and ready for the school year to begin and the FFA activities to kick off. The first scheduled activity for the chapter is the annual chili supper and creed-speaking contest on September 29th.
In late July several FFA member competed in the Bent County Fair and Prowers County Fair and saw success from their hard work in their SAEs. At the Prowers county fair, Natasha Idler won both reserve champion goat and reserve grand champion showman for goats, Camie Idler won grand champion goat and Nicole Idler won grand champion showman for her goat. For hogs at the fair, Brock Martin won grand champion hog and reserve senior showman. Callie Fort won reserve champion hog and reserve round robin showman, as well as grand senior showman for her hogs. At the bent county fair, Erin Karney won round robin senior champion and champion senior showmen for her steer. Dalton Sniff won champion senior showman for his sheep, and Jordan Melgoza won champion senior showman or her hog.
As the 2009-2010 school year begins, the McClave FFA chapter has plenty of success of the summer to build off of to make the school year successful and prosperous.
