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By Newton FFA Reporter Gaby Layton
As the Newton FFA geared up to take on serving breakfast for about 400 riders over two days. The chapter planned on making a great impression on the riders and WHO staff as members gathered at the Newton Club bright early on Monday and Tuesday mornings to prepare delicious breakfast food. The chapter members, parents and alumni decided on serving biscuits and gravy, breakfast sandwiches with sausage or canadian bacon, and donuts with coffee or juice.
As The Newton Club was starting to smell delicious, some of the Newton FFA officers were pulled aside to interview on WHO radio. They talked to Duane Murley about the meal, plans for donation money, and upcoming events that spotlist the Newton FFA Chapter. The meal provided for the riders and staff involved with the tractor ride was available as a free will donation, but the chapter had been planning on raising money for a tractor. As we wanted to buy a tractor to teach the students in the Ag program and Newton High School how to be safe around a tractor. Then getting all of the students AgSafety4u certified, before they are out of high school.
On Monday morning while chapter officers were giving rides to the Newton Club for breakfast they got to meet Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, as he was preparing to help WHO kickoff the first day by driving the route with everyone. They explained to him what the chapter was raising the money for and what we were going to do after we got the tractor.
During the afternoons the Newton FFA chapter president Grace Guy and reporter Gaby Layton assisted WHO by putting out route signs. Route signs had arrows to guide riders along the route for day one, two, and three.
On day two, the chapter was privileged to serve breakfast to the riders. We had members serving them and welcoming them to the Newton Club. The officers got to round off the second day by thanking everyone and taking a lot of pictures. Little did the officer team know that we would be invited back to be on The Big Show with Bob Quinn and get one of the craziest surprises.
Mr. Don Van Houweling and Kurt Kruse from Van Wall Equipment absolutely shocked us by gifting the Newton FFA chapter with a brand new John Deere 5065 E. They had been listening to WHO all week and heard the chapter was raising money to buy a slightly used tractor and planning to teach tractor safety. Tractor safety is focused on high school students, but elementary-aged students will get exposure during the annual spring Ag day.
The chapter is so humbled and blessed to receive this gift. The Newton FFA chapter is so thankful for everyone who made this possible.