Elma FFA Chapter

The Elma High School Agriculture Science Education Program is located inElma, Washington of Grays Harbor County.  The program is very diverse to meet the needs of the rural community.  Subjects include plant science, aquaculture, animal biology, forestry/environmental science, leadership, metal fabrication, career exploration, and more.  In order to facilitate these subjects, Elma High School has invested in quality laboratory facilities which includes a 2100 sq. ft. greenhouse that produces annual plants, a re-circulating aquaculture center rearing trout and salmon, metal fabrication shop, and forestry lab utilizing the school forest and industry work experience. Also, the program operates a floral shop, sign shop, and a milk vending machine.

FFA plays a key role in student leadership development at Elma.  The Elma FFA Chapter of about 180 members ranging in grades 9^th-12^th grade.  Members participate in competition, work experience, leadership development, career development events, recreation, community enhancement activities, scholarships, and more.  At Elma, members have competed at top levels at the state and national level.  In 2007, Elma FFA won four state championships and competed at the National FFA Convention in Agricultural Communications (2^nd National Team), Poultry Science (6^th National Team), Dairy Cattle Evaluation (12^th National Team), and Job Interview CDE’s.  Also, Miles Zepp was named the National Environmental Science and Natural Resources Proficiency Winner!

Supervised Agricultural Experiences are another opportunity offered to our students through FFA.  Elma members work in forestry, horticulture, production agriculture, forage production, to name a few.  Some Elma members raise and sell market hogs, lambs, and steers to be auctioned at the Grays Harbor County Fair while others produce quality breeding livestock.  Students work in the high school greenhouse and aquaculture center to practice employability skills.  The Elma Ag Boosters has supported student SAE’s by providing employment opportunities with forestry and production agriculture companies.

The chapter is advised by Christi Kershaw, Dave Rutherford, and Kari Toms.