WHO NEEDS A BUS?

Firelands students keep tradition of driving tractors to school

The sounds of tractor engines echoed March 19 through the parking lot of Firelands High School, 10643 Vermilion Road in Henrietta Township, as students smiled proudly near the tractors they had driven to the campus.

“I think it’s been a tradition since we first opened in 1954,” said Shanna Finnegan, advisor for Future Farmers of America for Firelands High.

Senior Liberty Gonia, 17, said being part of Future Farmers of America has been one of the most memorable parts of her life.

“It’s going to be the thing that I miss most about high school,” Liberty said. “I think I’ve made the most memories and most friends through FFA. “It’s been such a good experience. It’s been a good step in life.”

“I think it’s been a tradition since we first opened in 1954.”

— Shanna Finnegan, advisor for Future Farmers of America for Firelands High

Future Farmers of America focuses on giving youth a chance to achieve personal growth while approaching agricultural education.

For Liberty, it taught her to be confident in herself and her abilities.

“I’ve learned a lot of public speaking skills through it, so that’s really good because I used to be super shy, and now I’m not,” she said.

Finnegan said the annual celebration is part of National FFA Awareness Week.

Although the week technically was in February, Finnegan said it was too cold outside to do some of the activities, so the celebration took place this week.

“We have the tractors here and we bring over students from FES (Firelands Elementary School) and they do art projects, math worksheets and little activities here,” she said.

In effort to bring awareness to all the students, Finnegan said programming such as safety precautions, seat belt awareness and pickup truck safety were discussed throughout the week.

Liberty said the education programs are beneficial and Future Farmers of America prepared her to attend Ohio State University’s Agricultural Technical Institute’s animal science program in the fall.

“I did it because I grew up around agriculture,” she said. “It was kind of a given that I did it; it’s a good experience.

“Even if you didn’t grow up around agriculture, but you want to pursue a career in it, it’s a good step to take.”

As students admired each other’s tractors, Liberty said it was an example of the unity her community strives for.

“I think it really just shows how our community can come together, and what our community is,” she said. “I think people forget that we’re here until this day.”

LYRIC AQUINO — THE MORNING JOURNAL Firelands High School senior Mitchell Hodges, 17, sits on top of the tractor he drove to school March 19.

PHOTOS BY LYRIC AQUINO — THE MORNING JOURNAL Members of the Firelands FFA pose in front of two tractors that were driven to school by students March 19.

Firelands High School senior Liberty Gonia, 17, stands on top of the tractor she drove to school March 19.