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Riverbank High School Celebrates FFA Week
RHS FFA Officers 19-20
National FFA Week is Feb. 22 to Feb. 29 and Riverbank High School FFA has festivities planned all week long. Chapter Officers shown here (not in order) include President Nathan Rummerfield, Vice President William Gonzalez, Secretary Gisele Montelongo, Treasurer Cali Laughlin, Reporter Leilani Bynum, and Sentinel John James. Photo Contributed

The Riverbank High School FFA club along with first year Ag Instructor Brittney Thomas has a variety of activities planned to celebrate FFA week for all students on campus this week. A friendly game of Penny Wars is also in effect where the teacher receiving the most money in their jar is supposed to kiss a horse on Friday during lunch.

“We have a ton of different activities that are happening this week,” said Thomas. “FFA week is in full swing.”

Monday kicked off the week’s festivities with roping in the quad during lunch. On Tuesday the students were scheduled to have a dress up contest and were asked to dress like an animal. The fun continues with a hunt to find the FFA emblem that will be hidden on campus on Wednesday and students should dress in camo. Pajamas are the requested attire for Thursday and music will be played in the quad during lunch. Friday will wrap the week with students sporting their school colors to show school spirit and witness the teacher that has the penance of kissing a horse.

This is the first year that Thomas has taught at RHS; however, she has been in education for five years in college and student teaching. She was working at the vet tech program at Modesto Junior College and chose to go back to school to get her masters in Ag Education to teach high school. The courses offered at RHS are Agriscience, Ag Biology, Intro to Mechanics, and Advanced Mechanics and Welding. The RHS FFA Chapter Officers are President Nathan Rummerfield, Vice President William Gonzalez, Secretary Gisele Montelongo, Treasurer Cali Laughlin, Reporter Leilani Bynum, and Sentinel John James.

“I got into this field because I was extremely involved in my FFA program when I was in high school,” added Thomas. “I am from Turlock and decided I wanted to teach at a smaller school. Around Turlock we do not have any small school. I also knew I wanted to build a program and really develop a culture for an FFA program.”

National FFA Week is running from Feb. 22 to Feb. 29 and is filled with activities and dress days of their choice at school sites throughout the country during the week.

“The officer team chose these days and different activities in hopes to bring morale to the school,” expressed Thomas. “We currently have 90 students who are in our FFA program. We are hoping to expand our program and offer different courses in the future.”