Last Tuesday, January 14, 2025, the Union High School FFA Chapter hosted some very special visitors. Mr. Breedlove and Mr. Bridges, Agriculture teachers at Union High School, arranged for the National FFA officers from across the United States to visit our little town of Union. Union FFA officers and other members of the organization set up chairs for the activities. Students and officers met at the First Baptist Church’s Family Life Center and Fellowship Hall. Here, national officers talked with UHS students, arranged games, and engaged in other fun activities. Everyone involved enjoyed themselves.
The visitors consisted of the national officer team and their advisors. The national officer team includes Thaddeus Bergschneider of Illinois, President; Luke Jennings of Ohio, Secretary; Mary Schrieber of Wisconsin, Central Region Vice President; Caroline Groth of Kentucky, Eastern Region Vice President; Abigail Jacobsen of California, Western Region Vice President; and Jack Lingenfelter of Georgia, Southern Region Vice President. UHS students were also honored to host Mrs. Jill Wagner, State FFA Relations Specialist.
The national officers began the day by discussing what FFA means to them and everyone involved in the organization. National officers shared personal stories from their experiences as officers and members of their home chapters. These stories all came back to topics like perspective, leadership, cooperation, and other valuable skills that FFA members know are important. Mary Schrieber, Central Region Vice President, delivered a powerful speech that allowed students to reflect on their own lives. Her speech focused on perspectives. She taught students the importance of perspective and opportunities in everyday life. Students made a to-do list which consisted of things like school work, laundry, and other chores. Mary then told students to think about their to-do list as get-to-do lists. Mary Schrieber’s powerful speech turned the way many people feel about education and other things that are generally thought of as tasks and responsibilities to opportunities.
In addition to speeches and stories, students and officers participated in many games and activities. One game students enjoyed circled back to attention to detail. After forming pairs and checking each other's outfits, students turned their backs to one another and changed something about their appearance. Students turned back toward their partners and tried to guess what had been changed. Some students took their belts off and others turned their shirts around. Another activity that students enjoyed and learned from included music. Students went to one of three sections based on their learning types, auditory, visual, or kinesthetic learner. The visual learners designed an album cover for a specific song. Auditory learners listened to the lyrics of the same song and circled the two most important lines. The kinesthetic learners created a dance for the song. Almost everyone in the room smiled as they listened and watched others. Members came together and shared their designs, important lines, and dances. These interactive activities brought joy to everyone involved.
UHS FFA students appreciate the dedication of these National and State FFA leaders as well as our own FFA sponsors, Mr. Breedlove and Mr. Bridges. FFA means many things to the students at Union, and members are grateful for every opportunity to develop as leaders and students through this organization.
