Capac FFA program welcomes newborn livestock, preparing for spring flower sales
CAPAC — There are baby animals in the barn and flowers in the greenhouse at Capac High School. These sure signs of spring are possible thanks to the FFA program.
Chicks, baby bunnies and now, piglets, are being tended to by FFA members, said FFA Advisor Samantha Ellison.
In early April the program’s newly-acquired sow, Houlga, went into labor and Ellison created a live feed on You Tube that let students and the public watch.
“Everything with the piglet birth went great with nine happy piglets being born. We had five senior veterinary science students assist with the pig birth as a part of class,” she said.
“Since then students have helped with regular pig care like shots, ear notching for ID, and teeth clipping.”
Going forward, the young livestock will play a role in members’ animal science education in the classroom. They will also be available to students for exhibiting at fairs and shows.
The nine piglets will be available to FFA members to show at upcoming fairs and livestock shows.
Any pigs not taken to fairs will be used for breeding or meat sales.
In the greenhouse, potted flowers are growing on their way towards becoming great Mother’s Day gifts or brightening someone’s landscape. The selection includes petunia hanging baskets and geraniums in six inch gift pots. The petunias come in a combination of purple, violet and pink and the geraniums are available in either pink and white, orange or violet.
“We will be selling our plants via Google forms that will be posted on the Capac High School and FFA Facebook page on April 25. We will be able to send plants home with students or we will have a public pickup day at the elementary on May 7 from 3-6 p.m. for those preordered flowers,” Ellison said.
Unfortunately, supplies of the FFA plants are less than half of what they had hoped to grow this year. That’s due to a shortage of plant material from national supplies, Ellison said. Anyone interested in purchasing flowers is encouraged to do so promptly.
Ellison is encouraged that Capac FFA’s future is a bright one, expressing her gratitude for the outpouring of support the program has received from students, the community, school administrators and the school board.
