JUNE 21, 2023 — For the first time in 60 years, Lyons Central School District once again is home to a FFA chapter.

In May, the Lyons FFA chapter celebrated with its annual Banquet, held at the MS/HS on Wednesday, May 31. Mr. Brennan Dailey, Agriculture and Technology Teacher at Lyons MS/HS, serves as the chapter’s adviser and helped students revive the club during the 2022-23 school year.

"The FFA end-of-the-year Banquet is a staple for every FFA chapter, very few chapters hold a first-year banquet," Mr. Dailey said. "A lot of advisers don’t feel as though they have enough to show. I feel that these kids have worked so hard and so diligently they deserve to show what they did build this year."

FFA, which originally stood for Future Farmers of America, has since evolved and now is recognized as the National FFA Organization. The organization teaches students about farming, and then some: It focuses on building leadership skills and educating students about careers in agriculture, science, business and technology.

There are about 15 members of Lyons' FFA chapter. Some of those students had agricultural backgrounds when they joined in the fall, working on farms part-time or growing up in farming families, but many others did not. This year, students went on an overnight field trip to a conference, represented Lyons at a Grange dinner in Newark and visited various colleges with strong agricultural and technological course offerings.

The Banquet began with dinner served in the cafeteria, followed by an awards ceremony in the auditorium. To kick off the event, Mr. Dailey shared some history about the District's FFA chapter with the audience.

"I found this podium at the back of my woodshop my first day here. On the plaque right here, it reads, 'To the Lyons Central School District from the Future Farmers of America Officers of 1961,'" Mr. Dailey said. "In 1962 and 1963, they didn’t have an officer team, but they still had agricultural courses."

That plaque sparked Mr. Dailey's interest in the chapter's roots, and he discovered that the chapter thrived in the 1950s at Lyons. He also came across a chapter jacket belonging to Duane Gansz from the 1955-56 school year.

"That will be framed and hung up in the Ag room for hopefully many, many more years to come," Mr. Dailey said, adding that it is exciting to merge the 60-year-old history of the chapter with its new current era. "I have to thank everyone in the community for welcoming us with open arms. As I stand here in front of you, I cannot believe that I am the adviser of the Lyons FFA chapter."

The Awards Ceremony highlighted the leadership, ingenuity, dedication and honor of many students involved in the chapter. Local businesses who sponsored the chapter — either by financial contributions or by sharing guidance and advice — were celebrated, and specific individuals who gifted their time and support were honored as well.

A list of chapter officers and the awards presented can be viewed below:

New officer team: President: Baylei Reed Vice president: Anna Camnitz Secretary: Nathan Pelton Treasurer: Blanche Wolf Reporter: Kaylea Wagner Sentinel: Maddie Wadhams

Awards: Star Greenhand: Baylei Reed Blue and Gold Award: Kaylea Wagner I Believe Award: Nathan Pelton Agricultural Accomplishment Award: Blanche Wolf Camp O Scholarship: Nathan Pelton, Blanche Wolf, Kaylea Wagner Friend of the FFA: Crandon Farms Honorary Chapter Degree: Amy Pelton, Katrina Henderson

Lyons Central School District

Lyons FFA Chapter holds first Banquet in 60 years