History was made last Tuesday as the Meeker FFA Chapter won the National FFA Model of Excellence award, making them the best FFA chapter in the nation.
“I’m a firm believer that I work with the best kids that there are, and this award just proves that what I was feeling is correct,” Meeker Ag instructor Logan Johns said.
“Every single kid in my chapter played a part in earning that award.”
Johns said winning this award has never happened in Meeker history.
“That’s something that people work towards for years,” he said “I’m just so proud of my kids, so proud of my students. That was the first thing that went through my brain. These kids have worked so hard all year long, doing all these activities and development activities for our students and community.”
Johns said he takes his newly elected officers on a summer retreat to work on leadership skills and team building.
“We focus on a lot of different things during that officer retreat,” he said.
During the summer, they dedicated a whole day to planning out the next year and the activities they wanted to host. Johns printed out the 15 quality standards that the National FFA said every activity needs to be based around if a chapter wants to have a well rounded program.
They had eight activities that fit the 15 standards, then spent hours planning new and fun activities.
They planned out a variety of activities throughout the year that involved the community and taught people about agriculture.
One of the activities was Food Wars, which Johns described as a fun version of a food drive that was able to provide food items for Thanksgiving baskets for those in need.
Another one was Stamp Out Starvation, which was a community service event. In less than four hours, over 65,000 meals were packaged for the citizens of Haiti.
Other activities included Farm Olympics, tractor safety demonstrations, a cake auction and more.
“Their hard work paid off.” he said. “This was something that was earned by all 58 students. They earned that award. It just made me so humbled and thankful for the group of students that I get to work with everyday.”
Johns said he hopes winning this award will challenge his students to continue to win and build a sense of tradition..
“I hope it lights a fire under them to continue to be successful and continue to be the best,” he said. “And they live that out every day as Meeker FFA members.”
Johns said whether it’s watching his students walk into class or walk around at the football game, he sees them working to be the best that they can be everyday
“That to me is what this award represents,” he said. “It’s about being the best you can be while serving others and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, working hard and earning everything.”
Johns defined watching his students grow as refreshing.
“It’s so humbling to be the profession that I’m in,” Johns said. “It’s one of the most rewarding jobs there is.”