In fact, the club's name has changed to "National FFA Organization" to reflect the change from simply raising and judging crops to including other facets; namely, marketing, public speaking, and computer technology.
"There is a misconception that this program is just for farm kids. It's really for everyone. It's very diverse now," said Suzanne Hadfield.
This is Hadfield's first year teaching FFA at Davis High School. When she started in the fall, she had six students; now, she has over 41 students. Her excitement about what the program can do for kids is contagious.
With that kind of growth, the DHS-FFA Chapter needed some fund raising. So, on Saturday, May 15, they held a horse show in west Kaysville.
Age groups were divided into 5-13 years, 14-18, 19-35, and 36 and over. Speed events included poles, speed barrels, and key hole.
Show events included halter and western pleasure. Winners received ornate belt buckles and certificates for horse accessories.
Hadfield is quick to point out that the National FFA Organization is one of the largest youth organizations in the country. Her troop of kids has exceeded her expectations this year, winning many honors.
- Amy Law, third place in the Creed Speaking competition, $150.
- Students placed 16th in Horse Judging competition, defending why they placed horses where they did.
- The food science team, placed third in the taste test competition--identifying food items, responding to customer complaints, develop a new product with package design and ad campaign.
- Tyler Baxter and Casey Hill, superior awards, $1,600 scholarships.
- Brooke Stringham, first place job interviewing, will compete in Kentucky in Oct.
Students also took a three-day trip to Colorado to attend the Denver Stock Show to experience animal trading on a big scale. The show was about 10 times the size of the state fair.
"I like the business side of this organization," said student Tyler Baxter. "There were 10,000 head of cattle on a square mile. I gained a new perspective of a different culture. It was also a good break."
Hadfield gives much of the credit for the club's success this year to her students.
"I couldn't have made it through this year without the students," said Hadfield. "It is a student organization that is run by the students. I depend on them a lot. They gain social experience and learn to communicate with others that grew up differently than they did."
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