KINGDOM CITY, Mo. - Future Farmers of America members from North Callaway High School were cooking up a storm Thursday morning.
Members celebrate FFA Week every year by hosting a community breakfast for hungry locals, chapter President Chayla Hoffman said.
"We host this free breakfast to serve the community," she said. "They do so much for us."
Hoffman said preparation began the previous week.
"We had our FFA members sign up to bring food and set up tables," she said. "Then we got here at 5:15 this morning and started cooking."
Jaelyn Peckman, a faculty sponsor for the North Callaway FFA, said the students benefit from the event, as well.
"They earn FFA points for doing things like this," she said. "Then they get to spend those points on events like trips."
During FFA Week, Peckman said, the local chapter joins others around the nation in celebrating their half million members.
"Our 110 members get to celebrate with this week," she said. "It started earlier this week with a church service, then we had the student auction. After that, we had a dress-up day, and yesterday was 'take your tractor to school' day."
Katie Robnett, another faculty sponsor, said the breakfast is a staple of the FFA's year.
"I don't know what year it started," Robnett said. "I have been here for 12 years, and it has been going on since before then."
Hungry diner Joe Spartafora was able to take the event back even further. He said he has been coming to and participating in the breakfast since he attended North Callaway.
"I helped with the community breakfast when I was in school here," he said. "It's been going on since at least the mid-'70s. It really gives back to the community."