page 198 2015 LOGAN COUNTY FAIR LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com August 2-9, 2015
into groups and fed. Some ate what would
be considered the food of the affluent
- steak, potato, vegetables. Others had
lower quality, less expensive cuts of
meat, fewer vegetable, and one group
had nothing at all. Wittler said the girls
were touched by the experiment and it
was Sarah who commented that as she
ate great food, she was moved to give her
food to those who had nothing, but she
was not allowed.
Wittler said this was a lesson she wanted
to drive home to her students. Farmers
do feed the world, but not everyone is
allowed to eat. Wittler said locally, she
wants to do more with her students to
support feeding programs such as the
local food pantries. She has written a
grant for additional funding to expand that
outreach but doesn’t know yet if she will
get it.
Another program that Wittler brought
to the local FFA is the FFAAlumni
Organization. Wittler said she was so
happy with the group that is forming and
taking ownership of local agricultural
efforts of the FFA and Ag in the
classroom. She noted the FFAAlumni
provides assistance with the FFA
fundraisers such as the annual pancake
breakfast in the spring and schnitzel
fundraiser in the fall. They serve as
chaperones on FFA trips, and their
membership fees support Ag scholarships
for LCHS students.
She noted that even though it is tagged
as an “Alumni” group, being a former
FFA member is not required in the
membership. All it takes is to have a
passion for Agriculture and a desire
to help. The FFAAlumni she said is
continuing to grow in membership, and
without them there are many things that
she would not be able to accomplish with
and for her students.
Wittler noted that there are many
agricultural opportunities for high school
grads. Going on to college, they can
focus on many aspects of agriculture, and
there are many careers out there that are
underserved right now. It’s not just about
growing crops and animals; there are
needs for Agri-management professionals,
scientists, and Ag teachers, just to name a
few.
Anyone who spends even ten minutes
with “Doc Penny” will see that with
exception of her commitment to her
family, her highest priority in life is
to teach young minds the importance
of agriculture in this world. It is not
just a job for her; it is her passion and
unbridled enthusiasm about agriculture
that she wants every one of her students
to acquire. In the classroom and FFA, she
encourages her students to think outside
of Illinois, to realize that agriculture is
everywhere and comes in different forms.
It is not just about corn, soybeans, and
livestock; it is about food, clothing, and
shelter. It is about being a leader in the
community, in the state and the country
through Agriculture and FFA.
