The Manhattan High School chapter of National FFA Organization hit the year running with many activities, including being involved at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchison, throughout the week of Sept. 5-14.

The MHS chapter of FFA members help with many interactive activities that help teach State Fair visitors, especially students attendees of the State Fair who are interested in FFA and what the club does.

“FFA gives students opportunities to see many different facets of agriculture while they’re a student,” sponsor Elissa Mullinix said. “They have opportunities to choose the path they want to take.”

FFA also prides themselves in educating the general public about agriculture.

“We are running multiple programs for people to do,” member Landon Kerr said. “We have many animals for the kids to look at, we have a food area to help show kids what’s in feed by helping them make trail mix. And then our big one, a VR simulator for real agricultural based jobs.”

Giving back to the community is what FFA cares about the most, and coming to the fair helps them talk to all kinds of people and help them get involved with agriculture.

“My favorite part of the fair is coming and talking to people,” FFA sentinel Clara Mayes said. “Interacting with people and being able to talk about agriculture is good because we are able to give back to the community.”

Alongside the many other clubs that MHS offers, FFA focuses on setting their members up for success, whether that be with an agriculture career in the future, or general knowledge about teamwork and collaboration.

“Not everybody will end up in agriculture as a career, but those skills that we gain to work with others and accomplish a common goal, those will stay with us for life,” Mullinix said.