Banana Squash

FFA members Aaron Largen and Riley Wright are working hard in the hope of joining an elite group of FHS Alumni that have earned the American Farmer Degree. To date, there are only three FHS students who have earned the degree, Cathy Barker ‘86, Scott Beylik ‘87, and Mike Richardson ‘91. The American Farmer Degree is the highest honor that can be achieved in the FFA organization, less than 1% of FFA members earn the degree. In addition to GPA requirements, outstanding leadership qualities and community service activities, a student must have an outstanding SAE program that shows planning, managing and financial expertise. In addition to these skills, a student must work a required amount of hours which includes showing how to invest and profit in the farming industry using a required amount of money in order to obtain the American Farmer Degree.

Aaron and Riley are growing banana squash as an SAE project, which they will sell to a local insectory. The insectory will use the squash to grow a certain type of wasp that will be beneficial to farming. The project started back in April, when Aaron and Riley prepared the soil, laid the irrigation and planted the seeds. For the past several months, they have been watering and hoeing weeds in preparation for harvesting the squash when they are about 22 inches in length. When asked what the hardest part of the project has been, Riley said that keeping the weeds under control is tough. If left alone, weeds will suck the nutrients from the soil and the squash won’t grow.

Aaron Largen graduated this past June and was the Fillmore Chapter President and Ventura Section President for 2009-2010. He will be attending Moorpark College in the fall. Riley Wright starts her senior year as Chapter President for 2010-2011 and served as Ventura Section Treasurer in 2009-2010. Both Aaron and Riley have SAE project market steers that they will show this year at the Ventura County Fair. Let’s wish them well in their pursuit of earning their American Farmer Degree.