FFA cultivates students into leaders

Katherine White, sophomore Fulton FFA member, hangs clothes at the Clothes Cupboard Tuesday as a service project during FFA week.
Katherine White, sophomore Fulton FFA member, hangs clothes at the Clothes Cupboard Tuesday as a service project during FFA week.

A small group of Fulton High School students spent its Tuesday afternoon picking up trash, washing windows and sorting donations at SERVE, Inc.'s Clothes Cupboard.

The teenagers were performing the community service as part of National FFA Week, which is intended to promote the agricultural organization - Callaway County chapters have a number of activities planned throughout the week.

Fulton FFA member Isaiah Bishop, a sophomore, serves as his club's historian. Now in his second year with the organization, Bishop said he was inspired to join by his uncle, Chad Davis.

Asked what he has done through FFA, Bishop said he had gone to Louisville for the national convention, learned how to do meats and horse evaluation and gained communication and leadership skills.

"It teaches people how to be a leader, and different forms of respect and things like that," Bishop said. "It's fun; it's a good experience."

Friend Jonathan Morris, also a sophomore, said he joined FFA this year at Bishop's urging. He said he also got involved out of a desire to gain knowledge for his planned careers in landscaping and as a firefighter.

"I've enjoyed the experience of other people passing their leadershi along and helping me in my interests," Morris said. "It's fun, and it's not just one year - it's four years, and it will help you with your career."

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.