By Abbey Zentmeyer

South Rowan FFA Reporter

During the week of February 20-24, South Rowan Future Farmers of America (FFA) members participated in National FFA Week.

The event is a nationwide celebration to spread knowledge and awareness of agriculture and FFA.

During the week, South Rowan FFA officers planned daily dress up days and held lunch activities.

The dress up days included: blue and gold day, agriculture career day, flannel day, camo day and FFA t-shirt day. Throughout the week, the agriculture activities held consisted of jumbo Jenga, cow chair lassoing, livestock corn hole, an agriculture photo booth, a nail-driving contest and an agriculture relay race. FFA members also helped to make and serve homemade ice cream for teachers.

Also during the week, South Rowan FFA held a “kiss the cow” fundraiser. Four staff members were selected at the beginning of the week to participate in the kiss the cow event. Each staff member had a jug with their name and picture on it and students donated money for the staff member they wanted to see kiss a cow on Friday.

On Friday, English teacher Kristin Barrett had the most money raised in her jar. Haddie, a Jersey dairy heifer raised on the South Rowan land laboratory, was brought into the school courtyard for the event. The student body of South Rowan all gathered to watch as Barrett kissed Haddie.

A total of $127.15 was raised during the kiss the cow fundraiser. The money was donated to the charity of the winner’s choice — Relay for Life.

South Rowan FFA also held an agriculture book drive during the week.

Agriculture books for students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade will be donated to Millbridge Elementary School’s “Little Library,” which was built by South Rowan FFA.

All National FFA Week activities were led by the 2016-2017 South Rowan FFA officers: Cheyenne Hunter, Elizabeth Villeneuve, Kaitlyn Wood, Allison Williams, Abbey Zentmeyer and Elizabeth Law. FFA Advisors are Laura Allen and David Overcash.