Annual Awards Banquet
At the end of every school year, the East Buchanan FFA Chapter hosts an awards program in which the members are recognized and awarded for their accomplishments and achievements throughout the calendar year. The topics headlined are career development awards, alumni awards, star awards, Retiring of the old officer team and installing the new officer team.
Buccaneer Boer Bash
The summer of 2022, the East Buchanan FFA partnered with our support group, the Friends of the East Buchanan FFA to host an open meat goat show. This was held in the Buchanan county fairgrounds in Independence.
FFA Members setting up and working the show.
Open show contestants livestock projects getting judged by the judge.
Buchanan County Fair
At the Buchanan County Fair located in Independence, the East Buchanan FFA Chapter is very active in all facets of the fair. The East Buchanan FFA is seen working with many different activities at the fair. We typically assists with the Tenderloin Supper, Exhibiting, Queen Escorting and various commodity booths at the county fair.
Discovery, Greenhand & Chapter Initiation Night
This chapter event officially welcomes 8th grade and first year members into the National FFA Organization, while the second year members receive the highest degree that the East Buchanan FFA Chapter can bestow upon its members. This activity also lets parents see what a formal chapter activity looks like and gets them interested in the chapter's activities as well.
Farm Safety Day
Each year the East Buchanan FFA chapter assists the Buchanan County Extension Office by presenting a workshop at two different farm safety day events for Buchanan county students. In May, members present lawn mower safety to county 1st graders. In September, FFA members presented water safety and first aid safety to rural students from the Jesup & Wapsie Valley school districts.
Ayda Cook, Eric Tempus, Kyle Wessels, Mikel Dolan, Lauren Beyer and Parker Kress presented to rural students about farm safety.
Flower Sale
Every spring, the East Buchanan FFA chapter sells flowers from the greenhouse. The chapter grows bedding flowers, hanging baskets, tomato and pepper plants to sell to the public.
The Ag Business class transplanting plugs and then our flowers during the sale.
Fruit Sales
In October 2023, the East Buchanan FFA chapter sold fruit, meat and cheese snacks to local community members. The first week of December fruit is delivered and sorted. Members sort fruit into piles for students and then pick it up after school is out to be delivered.
FFA members inspect each individual fruit to make sure product is good for our customers
Leadership Day
Once a year, the East Buchanan FFA Chapter brings in members of the Iowa FFA State Officer team to conduct leadership workshops with all the agricultural classes that day. During the 2023-2024 school year, Iowa FFA State Officers conducted various workshops across 5 different classes.
Students using teamwork keeping each other up.
Students practicing communication skills by listening for certain noises.
Pancake Breakfast
The East Buchanan FFA chapter puts on a pancake breakfast twice a year. In November of 2023 and February of 2024, the chapter held its breakfast at St. Patrick's Hall in Winthrop, where pancakes, eggs and bacon were served with juice, coffee and milk. The funds generated from this event, go towards helping with state convention.
Members serving breakfast for patrons as they come through the line
Poinsettia Sale
In 2022, the East Buchanan FFA began selling Poinsettia plants. The chapter grew 200 poinsettias in the greenhouse and will be selling them to the public when they are ready to be sold.
Mum Sale
In 2023, the East Buchanan FFA began selling Garden Mums. The chapter grew 200 plants in 87 12 inch pots. These plants are sold to the general public.