The Collegiate FFA celebrated agriculture on UW-Platteville’s campus with National FFA week Feb. 17 to 22.

FFA week is celebrated nationally the third week of February to commemorate the presidents who have had a huge impact on agriculture. FFA week has become a tradition among chapters to thank local business and people who are involved in agriculture.

“It’s a time to publicize FFA throughout the nation,” Patrick Harker, CFFA president, said.

On Feb. 17 CFFA members got together in the basement of Wilgus Hall, baked and decorated cookies and brownies to give to the agriculture faculty and staff. Cookies were also delivered to some businesses around the area.

“It’s a way to thank local business for supporting the FFA and agriculture,” Justin Belling, CFFA reporter, said.

CFFA also had an emblem hunt where the FFA emblem would be placed around the UW-P campus and members would get clues every day hinting at where to find it, a meeting with Platteville High School’s FFA chapter, and a scavenger hunt around the community as FFA week events.

“CFFA is an organization that continues the traditional objectives of agriculture at the post secondary level and keeps students in touch with their leadership roles,” Rick Bockhop, CFFA adviser,” said.

Agriculture is the number one industry in the United States, Wisconsin and Grant County.

“FFA week continues to promote the economical well being of agriculture in the area,” Bockhop said. “It’s delivering a direct message that reduces the myth about agriculture.”

The National FFA Organization was founded in 1928 in Kansas City, Mo. and now there are currently more then 7,300 FFA chapters around the United States.

“FFA is really about advocating community service and how students can make such an impact,” Harker said, “it’s about being a leader at the college level and seeing they can make a difference.”

CFFA is also in the midst of raising money to have a memorial at the Pioneer Farm in memory of Matt Anderson, who passed away unexpectedly last August in a farming accident. Anderson was a former UW-P student and CFFA member.

“Matt was such a strong impact on campus and a great leader,” Harker said.

Plastic wrist bands are being sold for $1 to FFA chapters around Wisconsin and the proceeds are going toward the memorial. The wristbands are blue and gold and say, “In memory of Matt Anderson 1985-2007.”

Some other community service events CFFA is partake in are the Adopt-A-Highway program on College Farm Road and snow patrol where members shovel sidewalks after a snowfall for elderly residents in the community.

Approaching events for CFFA include “FFA Night” with the Milwaukee Admirals hockey team on March 8 which $4 for every ticket purchased will be donated to the state FFA scholarship fund in memory of Anderson, the wellness fair on March 11 where CFFA will have a booth relating to environmental responsibility and will be planting flowers, and the Career Development Events for high school students on March 27 hosted at UW-P.