Members of the 1999-2000 Pea Ridge chapter FFA included advisor Perry Mason and officers Meranda Marlow, president; Ryann Wright, vice-president; Kaity Keller, treasurer; Melanie Roller, reporter; Balyssa Story, secretary; and Brandon Havens, chaplain.
Mason had taught agricultural education and been an FFA advisor for 15 years, 10 at Pea Ridge by 1999.
Students in the FFA, in addition to officers, included Matt Henson, Joey Wiltgen, Sarah Whitted, Mary Bell, Casey Butler, Randy Deason, Sheldon Shrader, Jamie Harmon, J.C. Harris, Bethany Ledbetter, Jennifer Rogers, Jerid Leach, Chad Davis, Marcus Palmer, Josh Carney, Curtis Abercrombie, Stanley Copeland, Zeke Tovani, Brandon Jones, Chris DeWitt, Eric Mitchell, Tyler Snoderly, Ryan Easley, Jeremy Brewer, Terry Reynolds, Chris Gramlin, Danny Freeman, Vanessa Lotterman, Adam Guck, Chris Peckham, Amitty Ricketts, Sam Townsend, Shawn Spillman, chase Davis, Ryan Dawson , Leland Bray, Kyler Snoderly, Donnel Jackson, Matt Freeman, Jeremy Rick, Justin Utting, DeWayne Barnett and Josh Bachler.
Mason said students are beginning to realize that being in FFA does not necessarily mean they are planning to be farmers. He said many high paying careers involving agricultural mechanics jobs such as welding, masonry, plumbing, carpentry exist and the Pea Ridge Agriculture department teaches many non traditional subjects including leadership, public speaking, parliamentary procedure, extemporaneous speaking, committee work, patriotism and citizenship.
He said other subjects include fish and wildlife management, turf and landscape management, agricultural business and marketing, commodity marketing and futures trading, animal and poultry science, small engine technology, welding and metal fabrication, brick and block laying and concrete work.
Editor's note: The Pea Ridge FFA was featured in the March 29, 2000, edition of the Pea Ridge TIMES.
Editorial on 03/25/2020