Akins FFA Handbook
10701 S 1st Street | Austin | Texas | 78748
Mr. Callis
Room 332
Room 338/339
361-876-1555
Ms. G
Room 336/337
Mrs. Dorth
Room 331
Ms. Smith
Room 334
Information Section:
Community Service events: Students participate in volunteer events as events arise. Hours will be tracked in AET.
Barn Clean Up/Work Days: Required for students housing animals at the school farm. Designated work days will be set by the advisors. If you are unable to attend you must inform advisors. Work days are mandatory per animal species. They will last about an hour after school.
Shearing and Clipping: With prior ag teacher approval, students can clip animals for progress shows or TCYS. This will include clipping, shearing, sweeping, and general cleaning up. MUST have approval first!
CDE Teams: Career Development Events. These happen in the spring. Teams include: Floral, Nursery and Landscape, Land, Milk Quality, Ag Marketing, Vet Tech, Wool, Wildlife, Livestock, Poultry, and others.
Prospect Show: Our Prospect shows happen in the Fall. It is an opportunity for students showing an animal to practice showmanship and get some experience in the show ring before the Travis County Livestock Show in January. Progress/Prospect Show is not mandatory but highly recommended. Advisors will announce progress shows and which ones we will be hauling to as they are scheduled.
TCYS Livestock Show: Travis County Youth Show. Students get the opportunity to exhibit their animal or youth fair project for a chance to sell in the live auction. They will be expected to show up at required times during this event. Tardies and absences from these meetings will result in fines.
Officer Elections: Occur in the spring. See officer election process info later in the packet for information on becoming an officer.
FFA Banquet: The final FFA meeting of the year. Student’s achievements and accomplishments are recognized and new officers are installed.
Greenhands: A first year ag student is known as a Greenhand.
Animal Feeders: Students who raise an animal. A Steer Feeder would be a student who raises a steer.
Ag Barns: AISD Agricultural facility is located at Akins high school. Students raising lambs, goats, and pigs may keep their animals at the school facilities. All AISD rules apply for dress code and behavior at the barns.
Quality Counts: This is an online program through the AgriLife Extension designed for all students. Students will complete this program on the computer during class. They do not need to work on it at home unless they miss those days in class.
LIVESTOCK SHOW RULES & HIGHLIGHTS
1. No Pass/ No Play is in effect and does apply to the Livestock Show requirements!
2. Students in our organization are held to a higher standard and we require that they pass their classes each six weeks, we will be monitoring grades throughout the stockshow season.
3. Students are ineligible to show if they are suspended from school or placed in ISS. Any student placed in ISS more than one time during the year is ineligible to show. There is a NO TOLERANCE for use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco products on AISD property. Removal to the District’s Alternative Learning Center will also result in automatic dismissal and removal of animals.
4. ALL students in an ag science class that want to show MUST complete the Quality Counts Program by the due date at the October meeting.
5. Entry paperwork, money, and W9 forms for animal & Youth Fair projects must be turned in on the assigned DUE DATE given at the October meeting. We will not accept money after this date. **Please note that students must be in “good standing” that are participating in the Travis County Youth Show, this means attending 50 % of the meetings from August through December.***
6. Please visit website for rules, requirements, and schedule. traviscountyyouthshow.org
7. A current barn contract must be signed by student and parent.
Animal Project Fees and Costs
1. Pen Rent $50- Covers maintenance for barn, emergency medication kept on hand & sand
2. FFA Dues $20- includes Chapter, District, Area, State and National Dues
3. Validation tags: $20 per animal
4. Alfalfa Rotation with other members throughout year is REQUIRED
5. Show Fees $20 per entry TCYS, $40-$100 for majors
Additional Supplies You May Need to Keep on Hand
● Feed trough, water bucket, and cinder block
● Feed Box
*See an ag teacher for a list of other supplies you will need for specific species.
Ms. Hughes- Sheep and Goats
Mr. Lopez- Swine
Mr. Callis- Rabbits
Ms. Squyres- Cattle and Poultry
Sponsor Letters and Thank You Notes
● All Students who sell an animal or youth fair project in the livestock show will be required to write sponsor letters and thank you notes to the buyer(s). In order to make letters and notes more personal, students should hand write each one. This is preferred by buyers and demonstrates that you took time to custom write each thank you note. THIS makes a difference.
○ Turned in by the due date completed. Missing stamps, envelopes, or submitting a poorly written or unreadable thank you note counts as incomplete. Student must fix the problem before the thank you letters are accepted and check will be held until thank you letters turned in.
LDE/CDE Information:
Students have a choice of several different leadership teams to compete on; this will require after school and evening practices. Be aware that some of these activities could have a limited number of students who can participate. Remember that NO PASS, NO PLAY is in effect to participate in these contests!
● Wear a collared button up shirt (tucked in), nice blue jeans (without holes) and closed toed shoes. Official Dress is required for most LDEs and a few CDE contests.
● Must attend the required number of practices set forth by ag teacher.
● Be able to get to the school on contest days, this means very early in the morning.
● Leadership Development Events (LDEs) take place in the Fall. Students will participate at district level. They then can qualify for area and state contests.
● Career Development Events (CDEs) take place in the Spring. Locations and dates depend on the type of contest the students participate in. Advisors will announce upcoming dates.
● Speaking Development Events (SDEs) take place in the spring. Locations and dates depend on the contests.
● Science Fair takes place all year long.
ALL TEAMS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE!
$ FUNDRAISING $
Participation is required for ALL participants and FFA Officers. Various fundraising opportunities will be announced throughout the year.
TWO MAJOR FUNDRAISERS:
Fall: Bloom fundraising Cards
Spring: Plant Sale
FFA Official Dress
As FFA members, we have the opportunity to impact many people who may or may not be familiar with the organization: Community residents, business men and women, FFA sponsors, guests, parents, etc. Therefore, first impressions are crucial, and that involves the way we dress. ALL FFA members are required to wear official dress while participating in official activities.
***Ordering an FFA Jacket is not a requirement to be an FFA member. It is encouraged for students wanting to participate in FFA events.
Female Official Dress
○ Black skirt.
○ Skirt is to be at least knee length, hemmed evenly across the bottom, with a slit no longer than 2 inches above the knee, excluding the kick pleat. Black slacks may be appropriate for traveling and outdoor activities.
○ White collared blouse and official FFA blue scarf.
○ Black dress shoes with a closed heel and toe (No boots, sandals, open-toed shoes, or tennis shoes.)
○ Black nylon hosiery.
○ Official FFA jacket zipped to the top.
Male Official Dress
○ Black dress pants. (No jeans - blue or black, leather, pleather, etc.)
○ White dress shirt and official FFA tie.
○ Black dress shoes with a closed heel and toe. (No boots, sandals, open-toed shoes, tennis shoes. )
○ Black socks.
○ Official FFA jacket zipped to the top.
How to Wear Awards
○ Chapter degree, officer and award medals should be worn beneath the name on the right side of the jacket.
○ State FFA Degree or American Degree keys should be worn above the name on the right side of the jacket or attached to a standard key chain.
○ No more than three medals should be worn on the jacket. These should represent the highest degree earned, highest office held and the highest award earned.
Proper Use of the FFA Jacket:
1) The jacket is to be worn only by members.
2) The jacket should be kept clean and neat.
3) The back of the jacket should have only a large official FFA emblem, the name of the state and the name of the local chapter, region, district or area. The front of the jacket should have only a small official FFA emblem, the name of the individual, one office or honor and the year of that office or honor.
4) The jacket should be worn on official occasions with the zipper fastened to the top. The collar should be turned down and the cuffs buttoned.
5) The jacket can ONLY be worn with COMPLETE official dress.
6) The jacket should only be worn to places that are appropriate for members to visit.
7) School letters and insignia of other organizations should not be attached to or worn on the jacket.
8) When the jacket becomes faded and worn, it should be discarded or the emblems and lettering removed.
9) The emblems and lettering should be removed if the jacket is given or sold to a non-member. 10) A member should act professionally when wearing the FFA jacket.
11) All chapter degree, officer and award medals should be worn beneath the name on the right side of the jacket, with the exception that a single State FFA Degree charm or American FFA Degree key should be worn above the name or attached to a standard key chain. No more than three medals should be worn on the jacket. These should represent the highest degree earned, the highest office held and the highest award earned by the member.
Contact Us:
- Akins FFA
- @AkinsFFA
