When the El Capitan FFA Chapter was unable to participate in California’s statewide virtual 5K for FFA in February, they came up with a practical solution—they would organize their own. In May, they fulfilled their plan by hosting an event for the Merced community, including El Capitan High School students and staff. The event, which was sponsored through the generosity of local FFA families, was a huge success. “We wanted to provide an end of the school year activity that was fun for our FFA members, while getting our entire community involved,” stated Branyon Bliss, Chapter Reporter.
Like the statewide 5K for FFA, the event was open to everyone, of all different athletic abilities, with two goals—to be active and have fun. Chapter Parliamentarian, Berlin Saxton, has participated in the virtual 5K for FFA for the past two years. “I really enjoy how it allows me to meet other members from our chapter in a casual setting. A lot of us don’t like to run, so we walked, talked, and laughed. Some people even brought their dogs,” shared Saxton. The course included two laps around the high school campus, while supporters cheered on participants from the sidelines.
Considering participating in the 5K for FFA next year? Here are some tips to get your whole community involved:
- Create fun awards to celebrate as many participants as possible. El Capitan FFA gave away water bottles and lanyards for a number of different prize categories.
- Hold a contest for best outfits: most FFA spirit, best duo outfit, most school spirit, etc.
- Make a map to distribute ahead of time. Include a QR code so participants can follow the route on their phones.
- Have snacks and water available after the race.
Autumn Miller, Chapter Sentinel, was one of the primary organizers of the event. “This was an easy event to plan for our community, and everyone had a lot of fun. I would encourage all chapters to participate!” To learn more about the statewide 5K for FFA click here.
