Hot Dogs and Hamburgers and Cornhole, Oh My!

Fair Grove FFA starts off the year with their annual pre-game tailgate before the first home football game of the season.

On September 9th, the students of Fair Grove High School were invited to the FFA pre-game tailgate, regardless of whether they were in an agriculture class or not. Agriculture teachers, Mr. Johnston and Mr. Crutcher host the first tailgate every year and give out loads of hot dogs and hamburgers. What high schooler would refuse free food? Mr. Johnston told us that around 75-100 students attended the event; that’s a lot of hotdogs. 

The tailgate isn’t just for eating though, and the agriculture class goes deeper than just learning about cows and conservation. Johnston explained, “It is a way for our FFA members to have some fellowship and fun before attending a home football game. It is a good way for 1st year members to get to know their fellow FFA members, officers, and see myself and Mr. Crutcher in a more relaxed setting.” 

According to Alyssa Snitker (11), “The purpose of the FFA tailgate is to build relationships within people of the FFA as well as others in the community.”

Behind the scenes, the student officers are doing quite a bit of work to prepare. Alyssa Snitker is an officer and she told us, “It takes a decent amount of preparation. The officers will get together to decide on a date and then someone creates a sign up list. Then it is up to the students to sign up and bring their items the day of. On the day of the tailgate it takes lots of hands on the day off to help set up. We have to bring up tents, tables, the grill, and anything else we might have needed.”

Snitker said that the FFA president, Taylor Rode (12), and vice president, Hannah Morris (12) probably did the most work preparing for the tailgate.

All in all, the tailgate went without a hitch, except for the hot weather. Stormi Smith shared her opinion, “The tailgate went well, the games and food line moved smoothly but I wish the weather was cooler.”

If you missed this tailgate, don’t sweat it. Johnston mentioned that there will be another one soon when the weather gets a bit cooler and they are going to try to work around sports so that everyone will be able to attend.