March 28, 2024

2019-2020 Racine Southern FFA Officers posing along VA Beach shores during their retreat in June 2019. Submitted photo.

2019-2020 Racine Southern FFA Officers posing along VA Beach shores during their retreat in June 2019. Submitted photo.

2019 Racine Southern FFA Annual Officer Retreat Held

By Austin Rose, Racine Southern FFA Chaplain

RACINE, Ohio – The Racine Southern FFA held their annual Officer Retreat during the summer to prepare for events throughout the 2019-2020 school year.

On June 4, 2019 the Racine Southern FFA met at 4 a.m. at the school with FFA instructor Jenna Meeks, her daughter and Rhonda Meeks (Ohio River Producers-Southern FFA Alumni member) to begin the annual FFA Officer Retreat to Virginia Beach for Officer Retreat. 

While on retreat the officers got to go on a fishing charter boat which used nets and crab-pots, to fish. They learned about the aquatic ecosystem and the different types of fish that live in the Virginia Beach area. As a bonus they were able to eat the shrimp they caught that day for dinner.

The focus of the retreat was planning and preparation for the FFA Program of Activities throughout the entire coming school year. Some topics discussed were “who supports our chapter and how we can use these businesses information to help agriculture continue to grow.”

Some organizations that support Racine Southern FFA are Meigs County Soil & Water, Ohio River Producers, Meigs County OSU Extension, Athens/Meigs Farm Bureau, the Southern Local School Board and many more. The group discussed how to increase the growth of their chapter and how to grow the alumni group, Ohio River Producers. Additionally, they planned who would be in charge of fruit sales, Valentine flower sales, strawberry sales and the potty on the lawn, among other fundraisers and events.

According to a statement from Racine Southern FFA, “We have lots of events we want to try to do this year to promote agriculture and and FFA for the coming year.”

The officers enjoyed leadership bonding and leisure time which included swimming in the ocean and walking around the main store fronts in Virginia Beach. The leadership team arrived home after fives days, tired but ready to go forward with their plans for the coming FFA school year and ready to work with fellow members to make it a successful year.

Attending the Officer Retreat was:  president, Raeven Reedy; vice president, Kristin McKay; secretary, Caelin Seth; treasurer, Ethan Mullen; reporter, Natalie Porter; Chaplin, Austin Rose; sentinel, Dylan Lyons; advisor, Jenna Meeks; chaperone, Rhonda Meeks; and guest, Kiley Meeks.