FFA Inside the Emblem: Spencer

196 members

Spencer, Wisconsin

Marathon County

Tell us about your chapter. Spencer FFA was founded in 1950 in the rural community of Spencer. The surrounding area consists of many dairy farms and cheese production plants, which has helped to fuel our program. Over the years, Spencer FFA has grown and been a very successful chapter and agricultural education program. The Spencer FFA is currently advised by agriscience teacher Samuel Schmitt.

How does your chapter volunteer in the community throughout the year? Our chapter volunteers in many different ways. Project Merry Christmas is our most popular event and consists of a busload of members traveling throughout the Spencer community, going door-to-door and singing Christmas songs while delivering gift baskets. Other volunteer activities include a youth Easter egg hunt, serving food at a community church, helping out at a farm toy show, volunteering for the Spencer PTA and helping out whenever someone gives us a call.

What fundraisers does your chapter do throughout the year? Which is the most successful? Spencer FFA fundraisers consist of our fall FFA fruit and nut sale, high school football concessions and a spring strawberry sale. Our fall fruit and nut fundraiser is our most successful fundraiser, largely because of our amazing community. Members of the Spencer community love to support us and do so in a big way with our fruit and nut sale. Spencer FFA members also do a tremendous job of reaching out to as many people as they can. Our top sellers take this very seriously and always work hard to be in our top five sellers list.

What are the biggest events of the year? Describe. Our big events include our Spencer FFA banquet, Spencer FFA Alumni Dairy Breakfast, Day on the Farm and a couple other fun events. Day on the Farm is a very popular event, in which our FFA members teach third and fourth graders about farm safety and where our food comes from. This is a group effort and is always a success thanks to our hard working members. Spencer third and fourth graders also enjoy the day and get some early exposure to FFA and agriculture.

What is unique about your chapter? Our chapter is unique because we have members of all rank and age step up to help out. Young members do a tremendous job to get their foot in the door and help out with anything they can. Spencer FFA officers do a really good job of encouraging young members to get involved and leave their fingerprint on our doings.

When was your chapter founded and how has it evolved? The Spencer FFA Chapter was founded in 1950, and we are celebrating our 75th anniversary as a chapter this year. Over the years, our chapter has evolved in many positive ways. We have always had a very strong alumni base and a lot of community support. This helps to ensure continuity. We also are very thankful to have had Mark L. Zimmerman as our FFA advisor for over 30 years. Mr. Zimmerman built this program into what it is today and positively impacted hundreds of students over the years. Mr. Zimmerman’s memory will live on, and his work will impact our chapter for many years to come.