Poplar Starts FFA Program
It’s been awhile.
Poplar Schools has started a FFA program under the guidance of new teacher Ted Fulgham.
“I’m excited about it,” Fulgham said. “We have a good core group starting. They want to learn.”
He said that, according to a state officer, Poplar had a chartered FFA chapter in 1941. The chapter was active through 1943.
“After that, I don’t know,” Fulgham said. “I’ve been looking for some more history. I’ve looked at some yearbooks, but I haven’t seen anything.”
So far, Poplar has 18 students in grades 7-12 active in the chapter. Officers are Harlee Berg as president, Courtney Alexander as vice president, Kylie Gourneau as secretary, Patricia Charboneau as treasurer and Gage Berg as sentinel. Reporters are Rosanna Youpee, Eva Figueroa and Payton Grey-Hawk.
“I think there’s a huge demand for it here with our ag-based area,” Fulgham said. “There’s a great need for it. The school’s administration and school board all wanted it.”
Fulgham appears to be a great fit to begin a new program. He has been an agriculture teacher for 21 years including the last eight at Sidney High School.
There are 765,000 students involved in FFA throughout the country. Of those students, 54 percent are female.
“There’s tons of opportunities,” Fulgham said of FFA. “It’s not just mechanics, it’s not just woodworking.”
He noted other areas that seem to particularly interest female students include science, public speaking and leadership.
Students have competed virtually at the John Deere Ag Days’ livestock judging contest earlier this month. Poplar’s senior team placed 54th out of 64 teams. Berg placed 129th out of 306 individuals. Also placing was Leil Reddog took 209th and Devin Grayhawk in 304th. “This was a great experience and a great showing for the Poplar FFA Chapter with it being the first-time livestock judging for most of the FFA members,” Fulgham said.
Poplar’s junior team earned 29th place out of 58 teams. Jade Miller took 134th out of 314 individuals. Gourneau earned 139th and Fiueroa placed 278th. Also placing were Promise Cruz in 287th, Quincy Belgarde in 296th, Patricia Charboneau in 312th and GreyHawk in 313th.
Bainville is scheduled to host a floriculture competition on Dec. 8. A leadership and public speaking event is planned in Sidney during February.
“It’s up in the air,” Fulgham said of events because of COVID concerns.
He’s hoping to take students to the national FFA conference sometime in future years.
“I feel the staff and everybody has been very welcoming,” Fulgham said of being new to Poplar. “I’m here to help the kids succeed.”
He said parents are welcomed to stop by and visit about the program. One hope is to develop greenhouses.
“FFA isn’t only about cows. It’s also about plant science, ag issues, mechanics and horticulture,” Fulgham said.
