Display and events planned

Bob Lauffer, who helmed Grassland FFA at Garden Spot High School (GSHS) for many years as an agricultural teacher, is quick to explain how the philosophy behind the program has always been broader than the confines of the school building. Grassland started with teacher Bob Herr, who taught the first 18 students in 1959. "(Herr) had the philosophy of the community as the classroom," said Lauffer, who continued in that vein when he joined the GSHS agricultural department in 1977. "We used the farms and agribusinesses for field trips so the kids could engage in the real thing," he said.

Now retired, Lauffer is spearheading the celebration of 65 years of Grassland, which will include a display at the New Holland Area Historical Society (NHAHS), 207 E. Main St., New Holland, with a planned opening date of Tuesday, March 5. The NHAHS Museum is currently open Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day or by appointment. Also on March 5, a reception for the 2023-24 FFA Pennsylvania officer team will be held. Current state FFA officer Grace McCarty and all previous Grassland FFA officers who served at the state level are invited.  On Thursday, April 4, retired agricultural teachers of southeast Pennsylvania will meet for breakfast at Yoder's Restaurant, followed by an optional tour of the Grassland FFA display at the NHAHS Museum. On Saturday, May 11, Grassland FFA will host an open house at the NHAHS Museum with by-donation meals next door at Trinity Lutheran Church. Donations for the meal, which will be sponsored by Penn Ag Industries, will help fund a scholarship in Bob Herr's name. The first shift of the event will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon. The second shift will be the Grassland FFA banquet from 12:30 to 2 p.m., followed by the Grassland awards ceremonies. In addition, a reception for all former Grassland chapter presidents is planned, as well as reunions of those who took part in each decade the chapter has existed.

Lauffer said that the exhibit will feature the slogan "Grassland FFA - Leadership for a Lifetime," and it will include a photo of Herr with Grassland FFA national officer Glenn Webber. Portraits of all 26 state officers, along with photos of the students who earned Keystone Degrees, will be included. An extra 60 feet of display space has been included with the addition of portable racks. Lauffer noted that current FFA members are taking an active part in research and helping to complete the display. GSHS staff members Meagan Beam and Jamie Clement have also helped, along with Class of 2020 graduate Allison Zimmerman, who has worked on the design and fabrication of the display.

Lauffer has created a questionnaire to help gather data and photos for the celebration. The questionnaire asks for information about when former FFA members were part of Grassland, what offices they held, memorable events and experiences, who their teachers were, and how they use what they learned in the program. The survey may be accessed at https://bit.ly/GrasslandFFAAlumniQuestionnaire.

Lauffer noted that the agricultural program under Herr was "amazingly innovative." "Things he did were nationally recognized," said Lauffer, pointing to the adult farmer program and elementary agricultural program. He also praised Phil Ogline, who in 1972 began the segment of the program on environmental agriculture. "The program was unique in stressing conservation education," said Lauffer. "It was way ahead of its time."

Readers who would like to know more about Grassland FFA may visit https://sites.google.com/elanco.org/grasslandffa/home or search for "Grassland FFA" on Facebook.