By: Keanna Johnson
At Potter Valley Jr/Sr High School this last summer, we hosted three different summer programs. The programs we had were Ag Metal Shop Projects, AET Bootcamp and Livestock Show Camp.
The Ag Metal Shop Projects Camp participants built jacket hangers with the participants' last name on the top. It was a great program that taught us all a lot of useful skills. AET Bootcamp participants spent one-on-one time with our FFA Advisor to update their FFA Record Book. The Livestock Show Camp provided participants with four days of livestock showing 101 all about showmanship and show prep.
Vanessa de la Torre works with new showmen Kylie and Autumn during the Beef Show Day. (photo contributed)
During the first of the two weeks of Ag Department Summer Programs, was the Ag Metal Shop Projects in the morning and AET Bootcamp in the afternoon. Five students, ranging from incoming seventh-graders to incoming 11th-grade students, participated in the camp. Students learned how to lay beads and welds using shielded metal arc welding, operate an angle grinder, understand basic electricity and basics with the Torchmate Plasma Table.
After practicing welding beads, students were able to choose and prep used horseshoes for their project. The jacket hangers turned out amazing and we're all very impressed by how hard they worked and how good they looked. Some of these students had never welded before or used any of the equipment that they did in our program. Other participants had some experience but not a lot. This program helped a lot and taught our students a lot about safety, proper protection in our metal shops and many skills that they could use later on.
The afternoon AET Bootcamp provided time for our students to work on their AET Record Book. AET is a website that helps students keep track of their SAE projects, FFA Activities and community service hours. Keeping it updated helps students apply for awards and degrees, it also helps the Chapter track involvement.
The Bootcamp was open to all FFA members, and 12 members stopped by to work on their books. For some students it took around five minutes for it to be updated while others might've needed more time for it. Our Advisor Mrs. Moore was there to help students who maybe couldn't understand how to do something or just needed extra help with it.
Group picture from Swine Show Day with Clinician Alexis Biasotti. (photo contributed)
The second week of the Summer Program was dedicated to the Livestock Show Camp. Anyone enrolled in Potter Valley Schools from sixth- to 12th grade who was interested in learning how to show, clip, and take care of an animal could attend our camp. The camp was a four-day camp, where Monday was Swine Show Day, Tuesday was Sheep and Goats, Wednesday was Beef and Thursday was Round Robin Show Day.
For all of our Show Days, we had amazing clinicians travel in to help us along the way and provide us with tips and tricks. We're all very thankful that we had clinicians to show and teach us more about our animals. Every single day we also had a surprise winner of a gift that attended one day there. Everyone on the livestock team that attended and learned something new really showed that in the show ring at the fair and we are very proud of everyone that joined us.
Millie Johnson practicing showing a Market Boer Goat. (photo contributed)
The Potter Valley Agriculture Department had the ability this summer to support our students' interests in the Metal Shop Camp, AET Boot Camp and Livestock Show Camp. We are looking forward to next summer!
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