ANDOVER —
Pymatuning Valley High School’s chapter of Future Farmers of America encourages leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education through various activities, teaching them transferable skills necessary in many career fields. Throughout the year Pymatuning Valley High School’s FFA takes on many events, including, Toys for Tikes, Career Day, Kiss a Critter, Polar Bear Plunge, FFA Spirit Week, Teacher Appreciation Day and Drive Your Tractor to School day. Another event the FFA has been organizing is the Wild Game Feed which will be Jan. 18.
When people hear “wild life feed,” it might lead them to believe that the FFA is luring wild life in with outdoor feeders. But, the only “wild life” at the feed are the hungry teen-agers who are being fed unusual cuisine. Held annually, the Wild Game Feed is a gathering of FFA members and FFA alumni of Pymatuning Valley High School. All members are encouraged to bring in unique dishes made from wild game. In past years, members brought in dishes consisting of deer sloppy joes, alligator, snapping turtles, rabbit, squirrel and pickled pig feet. The Wild Game Feed gives Pymatuning Valley High School students the opportunity to sample food not typically served at the dinner table, which many students find surprisingly good.
“Last year someone brought in alligator meat. It was very good and tasted a little like chicken,” said Tyler Gruskiewicz, FFA president.
In addition to broadening student’s palates and giving them the opportunity to taste foods many students do not usually have the opportunity to eat on a daily basis, students also get the opportunity to learn about wildlife safety, hunting and possible career fields in the wildlife sector. As chairman of the Wild Game Feed, Brent Crawford, a PV junior, has the responsibility to find a speaker, sometimes a difficult task. This year, Pymatuning Valley’s FFA chapter has the opportunity to hear Ashtabula County game warden, Jason Hadsell, offering students real-life, career ready advice for students interested in the wild life field. In addition to the guest speaker, Pymatuning Valley’s extensive FFA alumni are present at the event giving many students the opportunity to learn more about career opportunities in the agricultural field and wildlife field. FFA students are encouraged to bring guests with them to the event, and if you are interested in learning more about it, contact Karen Cooley, PV FFA adviser, at 440 293-6263.
Organizing the Wild Game Feed takes up lot of the FFA students’ time throughout the month. But that is not all that is keeping the students at Pymatuning Valley High School busy this month. The first semester is rapidly coming to a close with the last day being Friday. Mid-term exams for year-long courses, and final exams for semester courses have been keeping students on their toes and at the books all this week.
Juniors and seniors at PV who really worked hard on their study of the novel “To Kill a Mockingbird” will be enjoying a field trip at the end of the month to see a live production of the play at the Magic City Theater Co. in Barberton. Cassandra Orahood, PV junior, said that the opportunity to attend a live production is exciting. She said that she read the book for her Advanced Placement Literature class and enjoyed it. When she watched the movie, it was somewhat disappointing because she felt it missed some of the book’s most important moments. She is looking forward to seeing the live production to see how it compares to the book as well.
“It is really interesting to see what parts of the novel a director might value versus what I thought was good,” Orahood said.
Wild game, classic literature and diligent studies. PV’s interests and activities are as diverse as the dishes at the upcoming dinner. But that is part of the Laker spirit – GO Lakers!
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Sarah Urchek and Austin Lynch
Discussion
You never know surprises in store for Pymatuning's annual wild game dinner
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