Local FFA President explains chapter legacy

SIDNEY – Sidney High School’s legacy is at least a century old, and it is more than academics. 

Sidney High School FFA Club President Josette McConnell spoke before the Sidney School District Board of Education Monday on what the Future Farmers of America (FFA) is in Sidney. 

“Sidney Public Schools is a legacy, one that’s been built nearly a century ago with North Elementary. Now, in the 100 years since then, many things have changed, accomplishmets have been made; ones that are demonstrated by the plaques that are hanging in the high school and middle school, the trophies that our school has won,” she said. 

She said Sidney’s FFA program is about six years old. 

“In those six short years, we’ve managed to make a legacy, one that will continue for another hundred years. But, FFA, not only here at Sidney, but nationwide is developed around what’s considered a three-circle model,” she said. 

The three-circle model recognizes classroom instruction, supervised agricultural experience and FFA leadership. 

She said FFA is designed to promote successful students. 

“It’s those students, what they’ve learned, and the experiences they’ve gained, that have made them successful in the real world. And that’s what Sidney Public Schools does; equip students with the education and experiences they need to be successful in the real world. And that is exactly what Sidney FFA does,” she said. 

Future Farmers of America was founded in 1928 by a group of young farmers. They taught that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting. It is business, science and an art. 

The Sidney FFA is hosting a steak feed and labor auction 6 p.m. February 27 at the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds.