Before each home football game the Fair Grove team plays, the Future Farmers of America (FFA) hold a tailgate cookout in the school’s parking lot to support the team. The FFA began this tradition in the fall of 2000 and have kept it going ever since, and it is open to all students.

Fair Grove agriculture teacher and FFA sponsor Matt Crutcher is a major force behind the FFA tailgates. He explained, “The motivation for having the tailgates simply started as FFA members wanting to get together and show support for our teams. The motivation has turned into giving students somewhere to go and something to do after school on game days. It gets students to attend games that they may not typically attend because they would have ridden the bus home and not had a ride to come back and it also keeps kids from wandering the mean streets of Fair Grove.” The tailgates have expanded beyond just a way for only FFA students to show support for the team. Crutcher noted, “This year we have an average attendance of 150 people (middle school, high school, adults). We cook whatever the students bring. There are always hot dogs for everyone, occasionally someone will bring enough hamburgers for everyone. Sometimes students will bring in steaks for us to cook for them.”

The tailgates also provide an opportunity for students that wouldn’t normally interact to bond with each other. For FFA officer Bailey Richardson (11), this is especially beneficial. She stated, “I enjoy participating in the FFA tailgates because it gives me the opportunity to meet a lot of underclassmen. As an officer, it’s important for me to socialize with as many members as possible. I help with setting up the tailgate, and make sure everything runs smoothly.” Richardson also pointed out, “…we love when the football team, coaches, middle schoolers, and other people attend. I recommend everybody to come if possible because it’s a good time, with fun games and good food.”

The next tailgate and home football game will take place on November 1.