Future Farmers of America members in chapters across the Clarke County School District will be selling Boston butts to raise funds. All four middle schools and both of the high schools in the CCSD have an agriculture program and FFA clubs. “It’s kind of a collaborative effort for all of us to come together. We’re all selling these in order to raise some extra money,” Clarke Central High School FFA advisor and agriculture teacher Jillian Gordon said. Graphic by FFA Alumni.
The money raised in the Clarke County School District’s Future Farmers of America Alumni Boston butt fundraiser will be put towards scholarship opportunities for program activities.
Future Farmers of America members will be selling six to eight pound Stripling’s seasoned fully cooked Boston butts, a cut of pork, through Oct. 22. The fundraiser was organized by the Clarke County School District FFA alumni to raise funds for the four middle school and two high school FFA chapters in the CCSD.
“Alumni makes it seem like people who only graduated from it can do it, but alumni is just another name for a boosters club,” Clarke Central High School FFA advisor and agriculture teacher Jillian Gordon said. “With (the CCHS chapter) specifically being a new chapter we don’t have a lot of money so it’s just kind of our first kick off with alumni.”
The Boston butts will be sold for $20 each. According to Gordon, most of the funds raised will go to scholarship opportunities for their trip to conventions.
“Some of the trips are pretty expensive,” Gordon said. “I have some students who are really involved who are staying in shelters right now, who for various reasons can’t afford to go on the trips. (The funds are) really going to be set aside for students who want to go and have interest in going and are committed to it.”
CCHS junior and FFA chapter reporter and president Jordan Butler believes attending the trips adds to members’ experiences in FFA.
“It’s amazing to have all of these people who have the same ideas and the same passion as me for agriculture to come together and talk as one and be as one in one area,” Butler said.
Butler is passionate about the program and the activities they do.
“I felt like I needed a leadership position this year to kind of show people what FFA is. I’m a FFA nerd and I’m in love with it,” Butler said. “This year I’ve adopted the passion. Everything I do, I do it for FFA.”
Butler believes the fundraiser will go well and is excited to see the outcome.
“I think it’s gonna be great,” Butler said. “It’s just a lot of people chowing down on their food.”
Gordon is curious to see how successful the fundraiser will be in an area like Athens.
“I think it will be a good start,” Gordon said. “It’s normally very successful in more rural areas but we know our programs in Clarke County, and the community in Clarke County is not like that. I think some other fundraisers might go a little bit better so we’ll see.”
