FFA hones valuable life skills

“I hope Pea Ridge will always see the value of Agriculture courses here!”

Perry Mason, ag teacher and FFA advisor

The FFA is going strong in Pea Ridge, despite covid-19 restrictions which have limited events.

Agriculture teacher and FFA sponsor Perry Mason has been on staff at Pea Ridge since 1990. And, not only does he teach ag, but he lives it as well, raising cattle on a farm in McDonald County, Mo., just north of Pea Ridge.

Mason has seen the numbers of students in FFA wax and wane, with as many as 145 students involved in years past. This year, there are about 100 members.

“That first year, we started with 13 FFA members. By the end of the year there were close to 100. We have had as many as 145 members. We pretty much maintained those numbers until the conception of PRMBA. After that, I quit having seniors until recently, but we’ve always managed right at 100 Ag/ FFA students,” Mason said, adding that John E. King teaches two seventh- and 8th-grade classes at the junior high. “Those classes, coupled with the seven classes I teach has resulted in 115 students in the program.”

“Nationwide, the numbers in FFA have increased steadily since the name change in 1988,” Mason said. “There are over 1/2 million FFA members across the nation. It continues to be the largest youth convention of any kind in Louisville, Ken., and Indianapolis, Ind., today. When they have it that is.”

“Female enrollment is almost double that of males. Which is quite a change from the year I first arrived,” he said.

The name was changed in 1988 from the Future Farmers of America to the national FFA organization to reflect the diverse population of students nationwide once it was realized that just because you were in FFA did not mean you were labeled as a future farmer, Mason explained, adding that at that point, numbers began to drastically increase.

This year, the president of Pea Ridge FFA is Zaelea Harris. Vice presidents are Jordyn Allison and Hailee Hayes. Other officers are junior advisor McKinley Travis, secretary Kelsey Whitehill, reporter RyLee Rains, sentinel Tyson Snow, chaplain Duncan Artt and treasurer Kale Webb.

Several of Mason’s former students are ag teachers now, including Chessica Rizley, David Cooley and Jimmy Gibson.

“There are a couple more who are in college to possibly become an Ag teacher one day,” Mason said. “Remember, Agriculture remains the No. 1 industry in America. There will continue to be high wage, high demand careers in this vocation.

“I hope Pea Ridge will always see the value of Agriculture courses here!”

Mason, who has adopted a different method of feeding his cattle said he reads everyday to improve his methods. Currently, he strip grazes stockpiled fescue moving electric fence every day. He said that once he retires, he will rotate cattle every 18 hours to build the soil.

“That will be my main goal — building that soil but the cattle benefit because of it,” he said.

Asked whether he was a farmer or a rancher, Mason said: “Actually, I’m a farmer I guess. Both terms probably identify me loosely.

“My professor in college told me if you were going to farm, farm. If you’re going to teach, teach. You

can’t do both. And it’s about the truth. Too much time in either of those does not do the other one justice.”

“I read every day and the Internet has provided valuable resources to teach me things that others are doing around the country I never am close minded and always willing to try something different.”

“This year has been a lot different. We had a drought last year and I had to buy hay. Right now my cows are grazing hay in the barn and in doing so they are building compost. I add carbon every three days and I will put that carbon or that compost on my land about the middle of March.

“I’ve currently got 16 Red Angus/Polled Hereford cows, a Red Angus bull, seven heifers and 14 calves about five months old.

“I am seriously considering purchasing a South Poll bull, but will have to drive a ways to get one. No one around here has them,” Mason said.

He grew up on a small farm.

“If I didn’t teach, and could do it over again, I would lease land, graze smaller breed cattle like the South Poll. I have a passion nowadays for developing organic matter in soil and providing plenty of grass without the great dependency on hay and the tremendous costs involved with that.”

Courtesy photo Some young fescue coming up last fall on Perry Mason’s place in McDonald County, Mo. Mason, ag teacher at Pea Ridge High School, also farms and raises cattle. He strip grazes stockpiled fescue which involves moving electric fence every day. Eventually, once he retires, he plans to rotate cattle every 18 hours to build the soil which will be his main goals building that soil but the cattle benefit because of it, he said.

FFA: Learning to do; Doing to learn; Earning to live; Living to serve

Courtesy photos PRHS FFA president Samantha Huffman received her jacket from teacher Perry Mason. Mason said more students received their FFA jackets this year than there have been in a few years.

Brady Spivey, a seventh-grade agriculture student of John E. King’s sold $1,000 worth of Blue & Gold Sausage, was presented his FFA jacket by teacher Perry Mason.

Cayden Regan, one of John E. King’s seventh-grade Ag students, helped sell almost $1,000 worth of Blue & Gold Sausage and earned an FFA jacket which was presented to him by teacher Perry Mason.

PRHS FFA students unloading Blue & Gold Sausage products recently for the FFA fundraiser.

Students received their state FFA degrees after virtually attending state convention last year.

Pea Ridge High School FFS students with agriculture teacher Perry Mason.

Miss McEvans received her jacket from teacher Perry Mason.

PRHS FFA student Mallory Pruitt receives her jacket from teacher Perry Mason.

Pea Ridge FFA student Mikenley Travis at a livestock show.

PRHS student Delaney Busby received her FFA jacket from teacher Perry Mason.

FFA students stood in front of the class to recite the FFA creed.

A Pea Ridge FFA student poses with hens at a show.