FFA's award-winning memories

When it comes to preserving memories, members of the Yuma High FFA have it covered.

Last month, chapter members went to the 80th annual State FFA Leadership Conference where they received awards for 1st Place Small Chapter Scrapbook in the Career Development Event, Best Overall Chapter Scrapbook Career Development Event and a slew of other awards. Two members also received State FFA Degrees, the highest that a state FFA association can bestow upon a member.

Alexandria Eatherly and Ashley Wilson are two of the Yuma FFA members who worked on the award-winning scrapbook for the past school year.

Wilson, a recent graduate of Yuma High School, said, "It's just a fun thing to do. It's fun to look back at the events and pick what you want to be in the scrapbook."

All year long, the FFA students participate in events such as community service, conferences, camps, contests, the national convention and the Yuma County Fair. This year was particularly special for the group because it was Yuma High School's 100-year celebration.

Eatherly said she loves scrapbooking and recording the group's history.  "I like it because our history will always be here because of it."

Wilson said it's neat to know that their memories will always be around. "It's cool to know the next generation can look back and say 'Look what they did.'"

And with scrapbooks from the Yuma FFA dating back to the ’50s, the group has an opportunity to see what past members did and get ideas.

Instructor Leigh Loughead said students love looking back. Some have even found family members in the scrapbooks.

And then, the students always like to see what FFA members looked like in past decades.

"Look at the pants they were wearing," she said students exclaim. "Look at their hairstyle."

For the students, it's a labor of love making sure the next generation of Yuma FFA gets a chance to look back.

And it's something Eatherly also enjoys in her personal life.

"I have a scrapbook for everything."

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OTHER HONORS

• Yuma FFA members received a Silver rating in the National Chapter Contest.
 
• The Yuma FFA was also recognized as a Superior Chapter in the state of Arizona.

•  Ashley Wilson won the State FFA Diversified Livestock Production Proficiency Award and the State FFA Specialty Animal Production Proficiency Award. 

• Two Yuma FFA members, Jacob Baldwin and Macey Wildermuth, received the State FFA Degree. 

• Chapter reporter Alexandria Eatherly and Jonathan Bailey, chapter vice president of community development, served as chapter delegates.

• Yuma FFA members who attended the State FFA Leadership Conference were: Jonathan Bailey, Jacob Baldwin, Alexandria Eatherly, Macey Wildermuth and Ashley Wilson.

Source: Alexandria Eatherly, 2009-2010 Yuma FFA chapter reporter

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Stephanie A. Wilken can be reached at swilken@yumasun.com or 539-6857.