From February 19-26, FFA Chapters across the nation celebrated National FFA Week. National FFA Week is a time to showcase what FFA is and the impact it has on members every day. The Chinook Chapter of the FFA took part in the celebration with Dress-Up Days, FFA Fact of the Day, and a membership drive.

On Monday, Chinook High School students were invited to wear flannel or camouflage gear, Tuesday was Blue and Gold Day, Wednesday welcomed the wearing of overalls and suspenders in a tribute to farmers and ranchers with a Cowboy Up/Wrangler Day, and Thursday was designated Farm Animals Day. A few students engaged with Thursday's theme by wearing cow costumes or applying press-on nails with a Holstein theme.

In addition, when students arrived on February 24, every locker was tagged with a Ziploc bag containing a marshmallow, a graham cracker, and a piece of chocolate. Each bag was affixed with the invitation: "Chinook FFA needs S'more members like you!"

Any locker belonging to a senior FFA member-Shyla Benzing, Ethan Liddle, Halle Mitchell, and Stacie Liddle-also bore a magnet. These die-cut wooden FFA magnets were created by Benzing, who used a program that sends the design to the school's CO2 Laser Engraver. Each magnet shares a bit of the member's story. The first F is imprinted with the member's name and office-if one is held; the second F reveals the member's Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAE) as well as any contests in which the member commonly competes; and the A unveils a favored FFA memory.

Benzing's magnet exposes her as the Chapter Sentinel, whose SAEs are Beef Cattle and Equine. She typically competes in horse evaluation, livestock judging, and agronomy contests, and her favorite memory declares: "Every trip is a new experience."

All week, the morning announcements featured an FFA Fact of the Day, such as Thursday's from the National FFA website: "Future Farmers of America was founded by a group of young farmers in 1928. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. They taught us that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting – it's a science, it's a business, and it's an art." The Chapter also gifted each teacher with a chocolate tractor, as a show of appreciation, thanking them for "planting the seed of knowledge in FFA members and students."

Keeping in the theme of things, FFA Chapter Advisor and Agriculture Education Teacher, Karyn Billmayer reported that one of her junior high classes participated in FFA event explorations during National FFA Week. "We will also visit the elementary school to conduct Ag in the Classroom themed activities in the next few weeks. We opted out of scheduling them during FFA Week since proficiencies were due on Tuesday, February 22, and basketball players were getting ready for Divisional Tournaments. The date for that field trip will be determined by what works for elementary teachers," Billmayer said.

With the deadline looming, the Chinook Chapter submitted three applications for members who qualify for State Degrees: Shyla Benzing, Christopher Jungers. and Halle Mitchell. Those qualifying for SAE proficiencies are Shyla Benzing in Equine Entrepreneurship and Beef Placement, Halle Mitchell in Agriculture Sales Entrepreneurship, and Christopher Jungers in Diversified Crop Production-Placement. "It has been a crazy and exciting week for us," Billmayer added.

Billmayer also anticipates two American Degree applications by the end of March. One from Rebecca Stroh and the other from Austin Swanson.

Even Amanda Mord's press-on nails reflected the Farm Animals theme.

In other activities, on March 5, a group of Chinook FFA members will travel to Conrad to participate in an FFA contest. Students attending will compete in Ag Mechanics, Vet Science, and Agronomy. An Agronomy Seminar is also on the agenda in Conrad. Those predicted to compete from Chinook are Tucker Crawford, Kenneth Gruszie, and Eyan Hofeldt in Ag Mechanics; and Madi Gruszie, Aislinn Handy, Britt Powell, Falyn Cecrle, Kirbey Hofeldt, and Neva Lowe in Vet Science.