Annual FFA dinner this Friday night

PINE PLAINS — The FFA will hold its annual dinner and banquet this Friday, May 30, at 7 p.m. at Stissing Mountain Middle/High School.

FFA parent and organizer Deb Phillips said the roast beef dinner will be held both to raise money for the FFA and celebrate its accomplishments over the past year.

"The FFA teaches children leadership skills," Phillips said. "They learn speaking skills and do community service projects. While they learn about agriculture, it’s not just about farming."

Phillips estimates there are currently 40 children involved with the group.

"This year they helped decorate town Christmas trees, they held a bake sale and a tractor sale, among other things," Phillips said. "At their agricultural fair, a lot of kids who have not been exposed to cows got a chance to learn about them, thanks to the local farms who let the kids use farmer’s animals. They spent about three weeks working with them. Most of them love the FFA and return the following year."

The FFA held several events throughout the course of the year, including an agricultural fair and a toy show.

Phillips said that the group also went on many field trips this year, including to a 2,000 cow dairy in Dekalb Junction, a grain plant in Canton, Conn., and a cheese factory, also in Canton.

"Right now there is a big disconnect between agriculture and the products people get from agriculture, so this even gives people an opportunity to see where their food comes from," FFA advisor Christine Mac Neil said in an earlier interview. "The FFA is a great experience for kids who do not have an opportunity to interact with farm animals.

"We always find that the community is more than willing to donate to the FFA," she said.

Admission for the event is $10. For more information, call Mac Neil at 518-398-7181.