FFA Auction continues to impress

FAIRBURY - An auction with over 200 items and a meal consisting of seven whole hogs and 12 turkeys were highlights of the 2017 Prairie Central FFA Hog Roast and Auction Thursday night.

“We definitely couldn’t do it without the support of the community,” said Becky Freed, one of the FFA advisors and ag teachers at PCHS. “All of our hogs are donated and we had people that came in today to help cook.”

All of the live auction items in the packed gymnasium were donated by businesses located throughout the school district. A restored row crop 88 Oliver tractor was raffled off following months of ticket sales around the area. Students in the senior agriculture class helped with the restoration effort. The tractor was donated by Bud Nussbaum.

“We had tires and paint donated. The kids worked on it in class and it has been a really great project for them,” added Freed.

FFA Secretary Loretta Knapp helped with some of the paint work and putting the machine together.

“I live on a farm and we’re restoring a tractor so I’ve been a little involved with stuff like that, but it was good to experience that in school too,” Knapp said.

P.C. FFA member Rachel Hankes feels FFA presents opportunities to help her and others do their best.

“I can do public speaking and it helps me be able to help other people in the community.”

Chapter parliamentarian Milan Leman makes sure the FFA meetings are orderly and follow the proper procedures. He enjoys meeting different people during various events throughout the year.

“I really like the atmosphere of the FFA,” Leman said.

The Prairie Central FFA chapter has a lot to be proud of with a nationally-recognized judging program. The school had seven teams compete at the National FFA Convention this past year. The Dairy Products team was a national champion while the Farm Business Management team placed second, Poultry was third, Ag Mechanics ninth, Ag Communications and Meats both placed 12th and the Livestock team was 19th.

All of the funds raised at Thursday night’s auction support the various chapter activities during the year.

(Listen to our coverage from Thursday's auction in PODCASTS)