FFA continues BYOP event for a second year
The Wakefield Future Farmers of America completed their second annual Bring Your Own Pet event, this past Sept. 26. The afternoon featured events such as goat yoga, flower collar crafting, nail painting and a pet photo booth.
“We just want to bring awareness to what is going on in our area and how we can help animals in the community.” Sofia Hlavenka, FFA Vice President said.
BYOP is not just for the benefit of Wakefield FFA; the club aims to help shelter animals. Every person who donates during the event is entered into a raffle to receive gift cards and pet items. Needed items include paper towels, laundry detergent, cat litter, kitten milk replacer, durable dog toys, cat toys, dish soap, treats, towels, and gently used pet carriers. The items donated by participants are all brought to local shelters. In addition, the event has an admission fee of five dollars that goes to animal proceedings. The FFA specifically focuses on Granville Animal Shelter for their donations.
“We try and make an awareness for animal rescues and shelters so people know what’s needed in the area.” Kelly Foster said. “Not everyone has a home so we try and help people with that.”
Two “attendees” of Wakefield FFA’s Bring Your Own Pet event.
BYOP will be one of the only animal events FFA will hold that is open to the community this fall. Jodie Riedel, FFA advisor, will be focusing on agriculture in the spring.
“Every month we try and do something that is community-oriented, something that helps our classroom and something that is for the FFA chapter,” Riedel said.
Horticulture teacher Jodi Riedel hosts the BYOP event.
April is when FFA holds an agricultural symposium. The event is open to everyone and features speaker Liz Driscoll to talk about plants. It offers speaking opportunities and workshops to enrich students.
It is the community that has kept such an influential event afloat and encouraged visitors to contribute to the community by donating to organizations such as the FFA. Despite many seniors concluding their last year with the organization, there is hope for many more opportunities for underclassmen.
“BYOP is important because it brings our community together.” Maddie Dwyer, FFA President said. “It allows members and alumni to interact with each other which is unique to FFA.”
