Pine Plains FFA offers tractors, toys and more at show and auction

PINE PLAINS — Members of the Pine Plains FFA were thrilled to welcome in a swarm of community members — young and old — to the 27th Annual FFA Toy Show and Auction on Saturday, March 17.

Proceeds raised at the toy show and auction went toward the FFA.

Doors opened at 9 a.m.; before long, the parking lot in front of Stissing Mountain Junior/Senior High School was filled with cars and families were seen walking up to the school building hand in hand. As they entered the building, spectators spotted a pair of John Deere tractors parked to the side of the school entrance.

All around the gymnasium,  there were countless farm scene displays as well as tractor implements and FFA exhibits by local residents and students. With community members Harry Baldwin and Bev Platt acting as judges, the show’s displays were evaluated based on their originality, neatness, appropriate use of buildings and machinery, tractor and implement completeness, theme and overall creativity.

In addition to the show tables, tractors, trains and other farm toys, both new and vintage, were available for purchase.

By noon, the annual pedal tractor pull took place and by 2 p.m. it was time for the annual auction. Autumn Prezzano was the Pedal Pull winner for participants ages 9 and up, followed by Kogan Lawrence for participants ages 7 through 8 and Justin Lawrence for participants ages 6 and under.

FFA President Claire Norman explained, “People tend to walk through the aisles and look at the displays, which is my favorite part. It’s just cool to see people passionate about collecting and what they do.”

A member of the FFA since sixth grade, Claire, a senior at Stissing Mountain High School, has followed in her family’s agricultural footsteps.

“I think this is important because it draws people to Pine Plains, to the community,” Claire said about the toy show. “We sell our T-shirts here and we get our chapter well known. It’s fun because these are all agricultural people, so they get to come here and enjoy themselves.”

“I think it benefits the FFA,” said Wayne Alden, a resident of Newburgh, “and the FFA is a good organization. It steers the kids in the right direction and keeps the public informed about it.”

“Our FFA has grown a lot where we have 35 kids involved, so we have a plethora of volunteers helping out,” said FFA Advisor Stephanie Rhoades on the organization’s growth.

By the show’s end, the judges announced this year’s display awards. On top of the Best of Show award, Lee Bush was recognized with a trophy and a first-place ribbon for Best Farm Scene Display. Mark Germond won the second-place ribbon for Best Farm Scene Display while Tom Miller received the third-place ribbon.

For the Best Tractor & Implement Display, Wayne Alden took home the trophy and first-place ribbon, followed by Paul Guiton with the second-place ribbon and Linda Guiton with the third-place ribbon.

Matt Schrom was recognized with a ribbon for Best Youth Exhibitor.

Coming up on the FFA’s agenda, the state convention is in May. In June, students will host their annual banquet and by fall it’s time for the annual Ag Fair on Columbus Day weekend.