As regular readers might recall, back in our Feb. 22nd issue we had a story about our FFA Chapter doing a new podcast. Our FFA students learned, through trial and error, that creating, editing and uploading a podcast takes time. However, it’s now live, and we at the Gazette wanted to bring you a brief rundown of the show. Hannah Frewaldt and Vivian Johnson interviewed Oran Sorenson about his experiences in FFA and about the history of the chapter. If you’d like to listen to the program in its entirety, you can follow this web link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ghs-agritalk0
First, Frewaldt and Johnson asked Sorenson about the foundation of the chapter.
“The Chapter started long before I became involved myself,” Sorenson said. “I first became involved during my freshman year in the fall of 1967. Now I can’t tell you what year exactly, but I can tell you that it was started by a wonderful man, my neighbor, who we lost a few short years ago, Jerome Johnson. Jerome Johnson was the very first president of the Garretson FFA. So, the chapter goes back to the 1950’s, and I also can tell you that when the FFA first started it was very much encouraged by the land grant colleges which were developed for agricultural purposes. Every state had at least one land grant college. SDSU is our land grant college and many state activities for FFA were purposely hosted on the campus of SDSU.”
They asked Sorenson when he first learned about or was exposed to the GHS FFA program?
“Well we all knew about the Garretson FFA program,” Sorenson said. “Ever since we were little kids as we watched the homecoming parades and many of the other events happening around us. That’s the beauty of a small community, is that everyone is involved from childhood. As a freshman at Garretson High School, I couldn’t wait to join this awesome organization. Back in the day, we had many good civic minded organizations within the school. National Honor Society, the Forensics Society, Boys Glee Club, Girls Glee Club, all the sporting activities, just so many great activities. But FFA stood out, all the guys wanted to join. And now, today, you’re lucky because girls can join FFA! There used to be FHA, Future Homemakers of America, but that’s changed now and FFA members can be girls and that’s an awesome thing.”
Sorenson said was not sure of the date of the changeover, when girls were allowed to be FFA members, but he said it was a good thing they did.
“We have many female farmers today who do an excellent job, and if they’re not in the field itself doing the actual farming then they’re involved in the business aspects of the operation and so it’s high time we respected women and their role in agriculture,” he said.
Sorenson told his interviewers that the GHS FFA was likely the first Chapter in SD to sell fruit. They also did things like deliver phone books, host fox hunting events, and sponsored and organized hay rides and sledding days.
“We sponsored hay rides, we’d sponsor fox hunts. Great social events 12-15 coyotes on a beautiful March day. $8 a piece good fundraising. First chapter in SD to sell fruits in SD. They also delivered phone books.”
“I loved the pageantry of it,” he said. “Every meeting we wore our jackets and we wore neckties to every meeting. Back in those days, $40 for our jackets was a lot of money. It still is, but we took it very seriously even so. At every meeting, we knew we were part of something great, with Chapters from Alaska to the Virgin Islands and from Maine to Hawaii. And our meetings taught us parliamentary procedure. Our Ag kids were naturals at city councils, school boards and township meetings, as we learned how to run meetings and be effective. I was lucky enough to be elected to the state legislature and so when I served, I already knew parliamentary procedure thanks to the good old Garretson FFA.”
Sorenson told his interviewers that Dairy Judging was his top event, and he placed in the top ten in the state.
“Garretson has always placed high in any FFA competition and we can take pride in that.”
He also said that you don’t have to be a farmer to appreciate the courses and what you learn.
“I’ve lost count of the number of FFA members who’ve gone on to do ag business, but they include my own children,” he said. “If you work at a service station you’re hauling fuel oil to farms. If you go to work at one of our local banks, you’ll be focusing on farm loans and family farm operations.”
Sorenson said that it’s fun, joy and service to the community that makes FFA worthwhile.
“FFA is fun,” he said. “Firstly, yes we want you to work hard, and be all you can be, but it should also be fun. Secondly the sense of achievement is also great, the FFA is a great stepping stone for life, with contests and activities. Thirdly the kids you meet from other towns, and you make friends forever.”
Frewaldt and Johnson asked Sorenson how things have changed over the years with the GHS FFA.
“That’s tough for me, because I don’t know all the things you guys can do today,” he said. “One of the newest things, we’re doing right now. We didn’t have the ability to sit down and do podcasts, so that’s new. We simply didn’t have the ability to use computers at all and to do all the things with them that you guys know how to do. I’m guessing that a lot of what we did has stayed the same, but the way you guys can learn it and that you can do it a lot speedier than we could, but the primary goals haven’t changed. Young boys and girls can reach out into the farm world and beyond to create good and positive impacts in our community. We were good at that, but I think you might be even better at it nowadays.”
Frewaldt and Johnson asked Sorenson what the community aspect is like, and what challenges and obstacles the community has faced.
“The Community supports our program,” he said. “Garretson supports its FFA as well, if not better, than any other community in South Dakota. We don’t know what the economics going forward are going to look like. Finding and keeping a good FFA and Ag teacher is a real challenge. Funding is always key. Finding FFA teachers is difficult, as is filling any teaching position that is difficult right now. A few years back we were raising sales tax in the state to pay for teacher salary increases, but then instead of going where it was supposed to, that money was co-opted and used for balancing the budget. We’ve also passed an opt out locally. I know that we’ve struggled to keep an active FFA teacher and program over the years, losing some talent to the private sector. That’s an ongoing struggle, as it is at any school district in the State.”
For more, check out the podcast and continue checking for more episodes as they upload.
