BEAUTIFYING THE COMMUNITY … Students Allison Theaker-Erway (right) and Wyatt Hays (left) pull weeds at the Wauseon Community Pool as part of Wauseon FFA’s annual Day of Service. (PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
By: Jesse Davis
More than 80 student members of the Wauseon Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter came together last week to volunteer at businesses throughout the community as part of the organization’s annual Day of Service.
The FFA has partnered with the Wauseon Chamber of Commerce to hold the event each year since 2017, with the exception of 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19.
“It’s always such a great day to see all the kids out in the community,” FFA Advisor Katie Black said.
According to Black, Chamber President Bill Drummer reaches out to the businesses, who fill out an online form indicating how many students they need and the type of work they will be doing. This year 24 businesses responded.
“We are still kind of down since Covid, but that’s about our norm,” Black said. “The most business we helped at one time was 32.” She said they usually see the same businesses participating each year.
“The cool thing about it is that for the whole morning we take them out to town and went to the city pool and pulled weeds.”
“We did work around the school to help with that as well,” she said. “I think this is the first year we planted all the flowers downtown.”
Drummer shared his love of the event as well. “It’s a great time for the businesses to actually get something done,” he said. “Normally they’re all understaffed and can’t find workers.”
“So, these are things they want but don’t ever find time to do, like landscaping, inventory and the like.”
Also highlighting the flowers, Drummer said the students planted them along Fulton Street, at the Chamber, at South Park, and at the community pool.
According to its Facebook page, the agricultural education program of which the FFA is part is unique in that it includes an agricultural classroom, the FFA itself, and a Supervised Agricultural Experiences Program.
The program is certified by the state to provide instruction in agriculture science, production, and business. Black is assisted by co-teacher Chris Thomas.
Jesse can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
