Participation jumps in Lexington FFA

LEXINGTON – The annual Lexington FFA dinner and auction started several years ago as a way to get more kids involved in the school’s ag program and now participation numbers have skyrocketed.

“We kind of saw a need to get the program built back up,” explained David Schuler, a member of the Lexington FFA alumni. “As we’ve built up a surplus of cash, we help play for trips. We also like to help with projects they do in the ag shop.”

This past Saturday’s seventh annual auction supported scholarship funds and different aspects of the chapter.

“This event really is one of the biggest fundraising events of the year for us so it is very important and beneficial,” said Payton Wiltz, one of this year’s sentinels for the Lexington FFA.

Several student made projects were featured at the auction as the students have been working on the group and individual projects for weeks. Plus, businesses donated plenty of items for the event. Some even spent a recent snow day putting the finishing touches on the auction.

“A lot of kids came out yesterday to spend many hours making sure their projects were complete,” added Autumn Botkin, chapter secretary.

It has been a good year for the Lexington FFA so far as Botkin, chapter reporter Beth Clark and former president Kayleigh Laesch were interviewed for the state degree. All three have been recommended to earn them. Also, section proficiencies are coming soon.

“We’ve even had a handful of top 10 placements in competition at the section level,” said Clark.