The Best Group: Fayette County FFA
This month is filled with excitement and anticipation. I love the holiday season. To me, the holidays begin with Halloween, my favorite holiday. Then, we move into my second favorite and most nostalgic holiday, Thanksgiving. I love Thanksgiving because my dad loved Thanksgiving. Last but not least, we end with Christmas. Although it is third on my list, I love it because it is Jordan's favorite holiday. An excited child makes everything magical.
Making the season even more exciting is that this is our busiest time of year. I love the hustle and bustle in the studio. My bib overall-wearing buddy thrives on fast-paced pressure. It has been a good season. Even more exciting is our list of fundraisers happening in the next few weeks. Fundraisers have become my new favorite part of our little business. I'm unsure if it is the element of surprise: I wonder how this organization did with their fundraiser? Or if it's knowing our products are helping to make a dream possible or helping someone meet a goal. Perhaps it's the fact that I get a little peek inside a classroom again? More than likely, it is all three.
Yesterday, we had the pleasure of driving to Fayette County Technical Institute and delivering the products sold by the FFA for a fundraiser. The students did an excellent job with their fundraising, which has been the most successful fundraiser we have done to date. Adalyn, the FFA leader, is so sweet, professional, and lovely to work with. Working with her and her group for two years has been a pleasure. With each fundraiser they do, their profits improve. It's fun to see the growth of the fundraisers when they are annual events. Adalyn and her students did a terrific job.
I also enjoy having the opportunity to meet the individuals who make the magic happen. Adalyn welcomed us into her classroom, where we met her students and saw all the incredible opportunities and innovations she had created for them. Their interactions made it clear that Adalyn is well-loved by her students, and the feeling is reciprocated. I can't say enough nice things about this group. They were helpful, polite, enthusiastic, and engaging. As soon as I stepped out of the car, I was greeted by a Nigerian Dwarf goat on a lead. I want to say the young girl at the end of the lead was in charge, but it was apparent little Chip was in charge. The FFA cares for two Nigerian Dwarf goats for the winter. In nice weather, the goats reside at the elementary school. In the cold months, the high school kids get to hang out with, play with, and care for two of the fattest little goats I have ever seen. What an excellent opportunity for the kids.
We also saw the new greenhouse recently added to the program and the exciting space Adalyn has created for her students to learn. I was impressed with the classroom and the students. I was even more impressed when Adalyn shared that her program has grown from seventeen kids to nearly fifty in just two years. That speaks well for her as a person and a teacher. Even more impressive, the majority of the new students are young women. How wonderful it is to see such interest and participation by young women in a program primarily dominated by young men. I saw a bright future for agriculture and small, farm-based businesses. Being in that classroom and around those kids gave me hope for the future.
To make a rewarding experience even better, I received a message from Haylee, one of the three top sellers. We make a practice of giving a gift to the organization leader, as well as the top sellers for the fundraiser. For the Fayette FFA, three students were within pennies of each other. Haylee was one of the top three sellers that received a gift. She took the time to message me and thank me for the gift. I was so impressed with this young woman. Most adults, let alone teenagers, don't take the time to write a thank you. That one act tells me this young woman is going far. I was impressed and touched.
Another young woman visited our website and wrote a glowing review of our products, business, and fundraiser. The best news was she shared that our fundraiser helped her earn all the money she needed to attend the Pennsylvania State Farm Show this year. This information made my day, probably my month. I feel good knowing in a small way; we helped this hard-working young person achieve their goal. That's a pretty awesome feeling.
If you are searching for a way to help an organization meet a goal or create an opportunity, we happily (and I mean this sincerely) offer a fundraising option. It's a simple process, and the profit margin is higher than most fundraising options. The products are nonperishable, of the highest quality, and useful. We have received the highest reviews on our fundraiser. If you require information, there is a fundraising button on the taskbar at the top of the website, or send us a message. We would love to put you on our fundraising schedule.
On this foggy November morning, stay safe, be smart, and know the future is bright. There are a lot of terrific kids out there; helping people feels good. And, of course, keep washing your hands, especially if you work with kids.
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