Unique fall “plow day” Saturday, Nov. 1 to help fund Du Quoin FFA Alumni Assoc.
The Du Quoin FFA Alumni chapter will be hosting their first annual fall plow day! This event is set to be held on Saturday, Nov. 1 and its purpose is to help fund high school FFA members' costs of attending such events as national and state FFA conventions, leadership camp, and other leadership building activities. These events and conferences are an essential part of an
FFA member's career and target personal growth, career success and the grooming of their premier leadership skills.
However beneficial these events might be, they can carry a pretty hefty price tag. This high cost can hamper the ability for some students to attend, a cost the chapter is looking to offset. By having this plow day, the chapter is seeking to raise funds to apply toward attendance of these conferences, widening the pool of students able to expand their horizons through the FFA.
For instance, the average cost to attend a single day of National FFA Convention will run a student anywhere from $150-$200. With funds raised by the alumni and applied to that event individual costs can be taken down by potentially $100 per students. The National FFA Convention sets records every year for attendance at around 55,000 student attendees every year. This also features a career fair spanning an area that covers every bit of 20 acres. It is truly a remarkable experience.
The plow day is set o begin at 11 a.m. with registration at 10 a.m. Cost is set for $10 per entry. There will be a concession stand there which will begin serving at 11 a.m., as well. Hot dogs and hamburgers cooked on the grill, chili, chips, cookies, among other fall goodies, will be served, all with a price of only $1 per item across the board.
There has been no official end time set, just when the field is all plowed over and the food is all gone`. Then, the FFA will call it a day.
100 percent of the proceeds raised from this day will go to a good cause, helping out the Du Quoin High School FFA members.
One thing to note: No official location has been set yet. The team of the Du Quoin FFA Alumni has narrowed it down to two locations, but which of the two will be chosen will be released at a closer date to the plow day. This is due to letting the harvest progress this fall and see which field will become available and better seve the needs.
FFA spokesman Joel Vancil said, "We hope o see you and a whole load of antique tractors on November 1, showing off your ride and plowing for a good reason. To pre-register you may call of text Vancil at (618) 571-1120, and give him your name, make and model of tractor. There will be complimentary placards handed out to all who participate.
The goal of the Du Quoin FFA Alumni chapter is to promote growth of the high school FFA chapter and its members through fund raisers, chaperoning events and moral support.