FFA Takes Steps to Raise Cattle

Claire Rausch

The West Delaware FFA is taking steps to receive permission to build a plastic hoop building to house cattle near the new bus barn.

Josh Hilby (11), Nathan Bishop (10), Kyle Steffen (10) and Jacob Kaiser (10) have been working on this project since last year every morning with ag teacher Tammy Schnieders’ classroom.

“I feel like every morning when we go in, we always learn more and gain more,” Bishop said.

They have prepared a 22-slide presentation and a four-page document, explaining the educational value of the project, which was first presented to the city council on Nov. 28.

According to Schnieders, students will learn different cattle breeds, vaccination skills, and the feeding process. Also, students will participate in raising livestock.

Then on Dec. 13, the team of FFA members presented their plan to the school board. Although the school board gave the approval to inform the public, the students haven’t received full permission to build.

“We are going to go door-to-door and hand out flyers to the houses in a 1,000 feet radius from where the building will be,” Hilby said.

Jan. 9 they will hear if the city council approves of housing livestock within the city limits.

“I sure hope we get this passed. We have put so much work into this. I would hate to see it fail,” Steffen said.