These Two Winter Haven High School Students Came Out of their Shells and Blossomed in FFA
by James Coulter
One was a shy wallflower. The other was unsure of what she wanted out of life. Both of them joined the Future Farmers of America at Winter Haven High School (WHHS). And both matured into confident, knowledgeable leaders in their chapter.
Kylynn Story, 17, and Brooklynn Headley, 16, serve as the chapter president and vice president of the Winter Haven FFA. Kylynn started four years ago, while Brooklynn started five.
Kylynn wanted to join any program upon starting high school. She had a passion for animals, so she decided to join the FFA.
Brooklynn, meanwhile, wanted to share her love and knowledge about animals. FFA seemed to be the best venue to do that, so she joined.
Both girls, along with their fellow members and officers, engage in community projects, from volunteering at elementary schools to helping horses at Hope Equine Rescue to participating in charity drives for the Humane Society.
Through her involvement, Kylynn was able to come out of her shell. She was previously a shy, quiet girl. Now, she’s an officer who has earned her state degree and who routinely makes decisions for her fellow members and gives them advice when asked for it, said Sara Garcia, Director of the WHHS Agriculture Department.
“She has done an excellent job,” Garcia said. “She has a wonderful spirit. She wants to be an AG teacher and she is big in positivity on encouraging others.”
The girls also engage in projects raising animals. Currently, Brooklynn serves as the hog barn co-manager, supervising 24 different students as they raise pigs. Her role involves her goingabove and beyond what other students do.
“She is here before school to make sure she is doing what needs to be done and the pigs are taken care of,” Garcia explained.
Brooklynn also loves raising hogs. She has engaged in roles from judging livestock and evaluating horses. Her specialty is (swine showmanship) breeding cattle. (this is her goal… She is not currently doing this)
Through her involvement in FFA, Brooklynn was able to further expand her knowledge and love for animals.
“[It has allowed me to] be able to figure out things like an animal that passed away and I was able to learn what was wrong with it,” she said.
Through their roles as officers, both girls have shown how much the FFA program has allowed them to grow and mature. However, the same is true for many of the other members as well.
“My entire officer team [is exceptional],” Garcia said. “I could have equally [boasted about] all ten. They are just a great strong team. I am very proud of how hard they work together. I love to see the family bonding with all of the entire program, and all of my classes together. They come out and participate, and they do all the chapter events.”
The Winter Haven FFA has flourished since a fire devastated their facilities one year ago. The fire, which was allegedly caused by an electric issue, started in the welding area, burned down the entire workshop, and destroyed the electrical system in the agricultural building.
Repairs and renovations (to the land lab) have since been made on campus, and they are anxiously awaiting the rebuild of their Ag building and workshop as they have learned the rebuild has since become insured. The number of FFA members has also increased significantly, with 169 students registered.
The Winter Haven FFA is always open to accepting donations from the community. Garcia recommends providing them gift cards for local hardware and farm supply stores like Lowes or Rural King to allow her class to buy new materials.
The FFA will be hosting a chili cookoff on Nov. 7. To learn more, visit their website at: https://winterhavenffa.weebly.com, or follow them on Facebook at Winter Haven FFA.
