An Interview with Mr. Allen about FFA at MPHS
Mr. Lamkey: Tell me about the history of our FFA chapter.
Mr. Allen: The official chapter document dated1964; however, I think it may have been around several years before that. In the late 1980’s, the program was dropped due to lack of student interest and finances. After graduating from the University of Illinois in December of 1990, I began to talk with the school, especially, Bob Maske, the industrial arts teacher, about the possibility of starting the program back up. I was starting to farm in western Logan County with my dad and brother and wanted to teach as well. The principal, Joe Zimmerman and superintendent, Bob Mueller agreed to try it and they were both very supportive, as was the rest of the community. I began teaching in the fall of 1991 and one of the best things I did was to start an advisory council right away, I reached out to many farm families and agri-businesses including Jeff and Tom Martin, Ed and Cindy Mayfield, John Poffenbarger, Rich Fulscher at Herrin Fertilizer, Eddie Shaffenacker at Bojac seed company and Mike Toohey, as well as others. There was much support and encouragement from everyone and the Agriculture classes and FFA chapter began to grow tremendously. In addition, local farmer, Tom Martin, was very generous in allowing us to farm a 5 acre plot of land west of town along route 54. This allowed us a great learning opportunity, as well as the ability to generate income for our chapter's activities.
Today, we currently have 70 plus students in the Ag classes and FFA. This is my 29th year of teaching.
Mr. Lamkey: What community activities is our FFA involved in?
Mr. Allen: We are involved with many things in the community. Here are a few:
- Very involved with helping to run the trams at the State Fair. That is a community project involving almost every school and community organization. It takes an incredible amount of man power and the FFA helps provide a lot of tram workers and drivers.
- Ag Awareness and Petting Zoo for grade school students in the spring - we bring all Pre-k through 3rd graders over to high school and teach them about agriculture. It is student led
- Farm 10 acres belonging to Vonderleith Nursing home. They are extremely generous to us, as are other Agri-businesses with donations of seed, chemicals, and fertilizer. Lake Fork Fertilizer and Herrin LTD along with Darin Stoll and Tom Cross have been especially generous. We use the income off the 10 acres to operate as a chapter; we plant corn or soybeans, usually putting a small yield test comparison plot in part of the field. The chapter has been able to purchase its own planter, tractor, and combine with the help of Tom Cross and other local farmers. This has been a great teaching and learning opportunity for the students.
- Pork chop and ribeye sandwich sales at Friday night basketball games are a big hit with the community. With the help of our FFA Alumni we sell 150 plus sandwiches at the home games and it are very supported by the community. The money is used to provide scholarships to local FFA students going on to college or university.
Mr. Lamkey: What competitions and/or activities does the FFA participate in?
Mr. Allen: We participate in many FFA contests and leadership development activities. We have been very successful and competitive in the contests at the section and state level over the years. Recently we placed 5th at the state in Agronomy. We are usually in the top chapters at the section level in Agronomy, Meats, Ag Sales, Dairy Foods, Parliamentary Procedures, and Ag Mechanics contest. We also always attend the state and National FFA conventions.
Record books have also been important. I have had many students earn their State FFA degree and I also have a few American FFA degree recipients.
Mr. Lamkey: Why did you choose Mt. Pulaski and what has kept you in the community so long?
Mr. Allen: Mt. Pulaski has been a great place to teach and raise my family. I currently have a son who is a freshman at the high school and have had three daughters who all were FFA members and graduated from Mt. Pulaski High School. My wife is a teacher in the community at the Zion Lutheran School. I cannot express fully how supportive the community and school has been toward the Ag program and my family over the past 29 years. I am very grateful. The chapter has had a few national winners and top placers in record book proficiencies and agri-science fair contestants since I have been here. However, probably the biggest highlight for me has been getting to know the great families and people that make up the communities here in Mt. Pulaski District #23. I strive to teach my students about agriculture and leadership and the endless opportunities available in agriculture. It is very rewarding to see students go on and pursue education and careers in this industry.