The following was written by South Stokes High School FFA member, Abby McKenzie.

Future Farmers of America (FFA) is a national organization that prepares youth for personal growth, leadership skill attainment, and career success through agricultural education. Ms. Sawyer Stanley, Agricultural Teacher, leads the local chapter at South Stokes High School. The club consists of 70 members who meet every other Friday and eight leaders who meet every other Wednesday. Each year, South Stokes High School hosts Farm Animal Days, a two-day event for Stokes County second graders to learn about farm animals from the high school students. Due to COVID-19, South Stokes High School will not be able to host the Farm Animals Days this year. South Stokes High School expresses their appreciation to Armstrong Artisan Farm for hosting a Farm Animal Day on May 1, 2021, which will be open to the public, and for donating the proceeds to South Stokes High School FFA. 

On January 14, 11 FFA members participated in processing chickens. Wayne Farms in Elkin donated the chicks to Stokes County 4-H for Stokes County elementary schools to raise the eggs through their Embryology program. Once the chicks hatched, Stokes County 4-H donated them to FFA. For processing, the FFA members used the N.C. Cooperative Extension - Stokes County Center Mobile Poultry Processing Unit. “We raised the chicks for eight weeks until they were ready to be processed. In addition to the broilers raised at South Stokes, we worked with Armstrong Artisan Farms, to process their chickens as well. Once processed, we gave half of them back to the Armstrong’s for them to sell and our chickens will be used to make a chicken stew at the Farm Animal Days hosted at the Armstrong Artisan Farm."