Oley Valley’s FFA thrives in new environment

On Wednesday, October 7, 2020, Oley Valley students returned to school in full. Throughout the previous month of online learning, some programs struggled and others excelled. Through social media outlets such as Facebook and Instagram, the school’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter was able to continue thriving. With the help of Schoology and the Remind app, chapter advisors and officers were able to spread word of upcoming events to keep Oley Valley’s chapter going.

Since the shutdown of Oley Valley High School in the spring, the chapter has been able to safely plan, organize and execute several meetings and events both online and in person. The most recent event was the annual Welcome Back Picnic, which provided new members with the opportunity to interact with the rest of the chapter through team bonding activities and other fun games. With the absence of in-person school days, the students were offered the opportunity to attend work days, a routine typically performed throughout the summer months. Following both the school and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines, our work days provided members with an enjoyable and safe environment to socialize and help the chapter. Members participated in a multitude of projects such as picking, planting and preparing vegetables to be donated to the food bank. With the start of school, students are able to engage in similar activities through agriculture classes and Lynx, a free period given to every student. Oley Valley is very impressed with the willingness of these members and their desire to help, and look forward to what the rest of the year holds for the FFA chapter!