WOODBURY – With the end of the year coming up. It’s time to celebrate Nonnewaug High School’s dedicated FFA members. The Woodbury FFA shows what it’s like to have the connection with one another and a hard working attitude. That’s why one night a year is taken to celebrate these members.
“Our FFA banquet is so much different than other banquets since we are a very ag-centered banquet,” said Andrew Zielinski, the mechanics teacher. “We do a lot throughout the year and it’s just a good time to be able to celebrate all that.”
Zielinski is thrilled for banquet night. FFA members gather one by one to honor one another on this special night to show their appreciation. Most don’t know what an FFA Banquet is, and that’s okay. They are truly missing out.
“The FFA banquet is a celebration of accomplishments that all of our FFA members have done,” said Zielinski. “We have an award night in honor of their big accomplishments for the year. It truly is a great event. Some awards that will be presented are CD and LDE awards. Leadership awards. Honorary degrees and certificates of appreciation for people who have helped the chapter out all throughout the year.”
The FFA banquet brings the ag community together as a whole and it is a very wholesome event. They push themselves every day even if they need a little extra push from our other members and staff.
“I’m a little bit nervous for the banquet but I know deep down it’s all just for fun and celebration of one another, ” said junior Tessa O’Neil. “But like I said, I’m thankful for the people in FFA who push me out of my comfort zone to show my talents and boost my confidence.”
O’Neil relates to needing an extra push sometimes that’s why it got her so far within our FFA chapter. She’s hard working with a lot of amazing talents. She was nominated for an award for this year’s FFA banquet.
“When I first got told I was nominated for an award, my first thought was, ‘Oh, I’m not gonna go,’” said O’Neil. “But then I realized how special it is to actually win an award. So I’m buying my tickets this week so I will be able to go to the banquet. But I’m most proud of my tractor driving competition. I was forced to do it at first but then I ended up having fun with it. But I love everybody who has faith in me to take on a competition like that and drive the tractors. But it definitely makes me feel good.”
O’Neil is truly an amazing fit for the FFA chapter. She shows perseverance and most importantly the chapter makes her seen. The banquet the chapter hosts will be a long term thing for the Woodbury FFA chapter. It’s really a night to remember.
“I take this night as an opportunity to see what the rest of the FFA chapter is doing,” said Zielinski. “ I don’t always really know what others are doing during the year and sometimes I don’t always hear about it either. It’s just good to see what I’m missing out on and celebrate it.”
