FFA Open House

FALLS VILLAGE — A crowd of some 800 people turned out Wednesday and Thursday, May 18 and 19, for the Agricultural Science and Technology Open House at Housatonic Valley Regional High School. On Thursday morning, seniors Arielle Betti of Cornwall and Alyssa Haddon of Falls Village were working with a very patient cow named Georgia, a 3-year-old Holstein from Laurel Brook Farm in East Canaan.Georgia needed steady nerves for the onslaught of small, amateur fingers grasping her nether milking-type regions.Arielle said Georgia is an even-tempered animal and looks forward to the trip to the high school.“She was waiting at the gate for me.”Georgia was feeling a little playful as well. When Arielle was stroking her nose, Georgia craned forward, as if wishing to nuzzle, and then burped.“Aaaagh,” said Arielle. “Ewww,” said Alyssa.The girls took turns showing groups of elementary school kids how to grasp the cow.Elsewhere, agricultural education teacher Mark Burdick enthralled a group of youngsters from Sharon Center School with the high school robotics teams Who’sCTEKS robot. Junior Keila Zipkin of North Canaan guided another group of children through the plant rooms and into the trailer for a hayride piloted by Dalton Jacquier of East Canaan.New Housatonic Valley Regional High School Assistant Principal Ian Strever, at his first such event, said he was surprised and pleased at the turnout. “It’s amazing to me, to get so many parents and people from the community here.”Agricultural education teacher Karen Davenport pegged the Wednesday night crowd at 800, and added that there were 115 judges for the almost 200 demonstrations and exhibits.