February 21st marked the beginning of National FFA Week and Golden Hawks are taking part. The Mid-Prairie FFA chapter, like most chapters across the country, is celebrating the week and showing support for the FFA organization.

The chapter has so far had a successful school year, and have recorded several achievements over the last few months. Earlier in February, five students, Adelyn Huston, Caedyn Huston, Averi Janecek, Stella Janecek, and Jason Yoder received their Iowa FFA degrees, one of the highest achievements given out by the Iowa FFA Foundation.

Several FFA members have also advanced through subdistrict competition to districts. Adelyn Huston advanced in the Job Interview event, Lakyn Lee advanced in Ag Sales, and the trio of Allie Whetstine, Cuyler Rourke, and Ellie Callahan advanced as the Chapter Program team.

Caedyn Huston, a junior and co-secretary of the Mid-Prairie Chapter, says FFA gives members a chance to find purpose, “I’ll be speaking for a lot of people when I say this, it gives people a purpose. Whether that’s you find a contest that you’re really good at, or you find a group of friends that you’re really close with. For our junior class specifically, I feel like ever since freshman year, freshman year we weren’t super close, but then as we developed as a chapter, and through contests, and moving along through FFA together, we kind of get that tight-knight camaraderie and community that a lot of people look for.”

In Washington County, all five school districts with a footprint in the county, including Washington, Mid-Prairie, WACO, Highland, and Hillcrest Academy, have an FFA chapter.