East Newton High School FFA members were recognized Thursday night during the annual banquet.
The banquet – held at the high school’s gymnasium – was comprised of a catered barbecue dinner, awards to the FFA members, honorary members of the community and a slideshow.
There were also six $500 scholarships given away.
One of those students who received scholarship was Logan Kennedy, a senior.
“After graduation, I am going to Fort Scott, Kan., in the fall on a judging scholarship,” Kennedy said. “I will be there for two years, get my general agricultural degree and judge livestock while I am out there. After that, I am not real sure what I am going to do.”
Kennedy has been in FFA for a number of years. He has shown animals at various competitions both local and state levels.
Asked why he chose Fort Scott as his choice of colleges, Kennedy said he liked the community.
“I have some friends out there that say it is a good community and the judging coach is a nice guy. That is kind of where I wanted to go,” Kennedy said.
An estimated 400 people came to the banquet to support FFA members and also for the members to say “thank you” for all of their support over the years.
“It makes me feel good,” Kennedy said of the turnout. “We have a good community out here, family members and friends who can come out and support us and they are a 100 percent behind us on what we do. If we need something, we go to them and they give it to us.”
Echoing his comments was soon-to-be junior, Alysha Thomas.
“It is really awesome,” Thomas said. “This year we had at least 400 people, it has grown so much. It is really awesome to see how many people really care and they help support the group.”
Both Thomas and Kennedy said being involved in FFA has helped them.
“It don’t matter where you live if you live in town or out in the country, if you have a dog or a cat, or a cow, it doesn’t matter, just get in FFA and get involved it will help you,” Kennedy said. “It will build skills, leadership skills, public speaking, it will just make you a better person.”
Thomas said, “It is a group that you can get involved in even as a freshman. There are freshmen that go to state. You can get involved right when you get in.”
