Fifteen Years of the Texas FFA Convention Day of Service
Tuesday, July 25, 2023 | Author: Vala Jenkins, Waco-Midway FFA
Since its origin, the Texas FFA Day of Service has allowed members to give back to the communities hosting the annual state convention.
The yearly service project, established in 2008 by Weimar FFA, began as a 45-person crew organizing and executing a book drive for local libraries before the 80th Annual Texas FFA Convention in Lubbock, Texas.
"The best leaders, in my humble opinion, are servant leaders who seek opportunities to help others be successful and who seek opportunities to make a difference," said Liz Treptow, the FFA advisor behind the inaugural effort and current Weimar ISD CTE Director.
The Day of Service has transformed into a large-scale two-day service effort since that time. With this, Weimar FFA remains the primary organizer of the event. The power of Texas FFA members' service-based outlook continually impacts the host city.
"There is often a need to see the thousands of student volunteers working at food banks and serving meals at community centers in order to understand the impact a teenager can make," said Treptow.
This past July, more than 1,200 Texas FFA members participated in beautification projects at 13 different park locations across Dallas.
"It's important because, through this day of service, we learn the fundamentals of hard work, leadership, responsibility, and giving back to a community that is not their own," said Tracer Rice, McGregor FFA member. "It allows us to give back to the city that has allowed us to host our biggest event of the year."
Fifteen years after the inaugural event, chapters are still eager to volunteer as they fulfill the living to serve aspect of the FFA motto.
"The biggest part is allowing yourself to be a servant," said Cameron Tomlinson, Waco-Midway FFA member. "As leaders, it's our job to serve others in order to lead others."
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Reporter: Vala Jenkins, Waco-Midway FFA
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