Rusk FFA starts new school year in full swing

by Jessica Chandler
Photo courtesy of Jessica Chandler
Rusk FFA members participate in the annual Cherokee County hay judging contest recently. Photo courtesy of Jessica Chandler
Rusk FFA members participate in the annual Cherokee County hay judging contest recently.

Members of the Rusk chapter of the Future Farmers of America have started the 2019-20 school year in full swing, as they gear up for a school year full of activities.
Over the course of the last couple weeks members have started practicing for numerous contests which include: the Cherokee County hay judging contest; the Wildlife CDE contest; and the Chapter Conducting LDE contest.

Also, the members of the National Environmental and Natural Resources CDE team have also been working long hours to prepare for the national contest coming up in October in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Rusk FFA also hosted the annual Chapter Greenhand Camp on Tuesday, Sept. 3.

This event is set up for first year members to learn leadership skills and to get an insight on what Rusk FFA has to offer to its members.

On Monday Sept. 9, Rusk FFA sent 13 members to Central Heights to attend the Pineywoods District Leadership Day to join the district officer team for an evening of leadership and networking.

There are several upcoming activities and events that members are also looking forward to attending.

On Sept.18, several Greenhand Rusk FFA members will attend the Area IX Greenhand camp for a day full of leadership, fun and fellowship with other greenhand members from all across the Area IX FFA Association.

Students are also working hard to get their Supervised Agricultural Experience Projects (SAEs) started.

In efforts to help first year members to get a project started, Rusk FFA is working to implement a new SAE Scholarship.

This scholarship is designed to provide members with a $500 scholarship to help purchase a goat, lamb or pig to exhibit at the Cherokee County Livestock Show in the spring.

For more information about the scholarship or to become a sponsor of a scholarship, visit ruskffa.com or contact the RHS Ag Department at (903) 683-5401.