VIENNA — Members of the Future Farmers of America at Maries County R-1 School spent the week of Feb. 16 through Feb. 20 celebrating agriculture through a variety of events designed to promote awareness, education and community involvement during National FFA Week.

Activities throughout the week included themed school days, a labor auction, a tractor parade and the chapter’s annual fish fry, each highlighting different aspects of agriculture and the role it plays within the community.

The week began Monday with the chapter’s annual labor auction, where FFA members were auctioned to community supporters for eight hours of agricultural or manual labor. The fundraiser helps students earn money for scholarships, travel opportunities and chapter activities.

FFA member Max Keeran participated in the auction and explained the importance of the event for students.

“Getting auctioned off means raising money and for scholarships,” Keeran said. “I’m even going to get auctioned off a second time so that we can raise money for some of us to go to Washington. When it comes to what I will be doing, it doesn’t matter to me, as long as I get work and we make good money.”

Keeran also contributed a basket for bidding that included three cheesecakes and three dozen eggs collected from his family raised chickens.

FFA reporter Brooke Campbell said participating in the auction can be nerve-racking.

“Im scared,” Campbell said laughing. “It helps the chapter and I’m all for that.”

Throughout the school week, students also participated in themed dress days, including Animal Day and Camo Day, bringing agriculture awareness directly into the classroom environment.

Thursday featured the annual tractor day and parade, where FFA students drove tractors around the school and city representing the agricultural lifestyle many students grow up around. Sophomore Talan Reeves was named this year’s tractor winner.

Vienna FFA Director Sara Schwartze said the purpose of the week and the Tractor event goes beyond celebration and focuses on education.

“Educatiating and promoting agriculture,” Schwartze said. “The governor is going to be doing this (tractor parade) at the state capital and we will be attending that event. It’s happening all across the state.”

The event connected past and present traditions, as Schwartze said she participated in tractor day herself when she was a student. She said events like tractor day also help remind the public about safety when sharing the road with farm equipment.

“It is also for people to understand and be aware to drive around the equipment that will be out during the summer months and harvesting time,” Schwartze said.

On Friday, Vienna FFA carried the unmistakable atmosphere of a working fish fry as students and volunteers prepared meals for the community. Walking past the agriculture room, one would notice an ocean-like smell. That smell would be the scent of freshly cooked fish filling the room as FFA members worked together serving guests and managing the busy evening event. More than 270 people attended the fish fry, making it one of the largest gatherings of the week.

Each event throughout FFA Week reflected the organization’s mission of leadership, service and agricultural education while strengthening connections between students and the community. From auctioning off FFA students,, to hands-on traditions, to tractor parades and to community meals, the week showcased how agriculture continues to play a central role in student life at Maries County R-1 and across rural Missouri