Du Quoin FFA alumni chapter re-chartered; plans silent auction at Thursday's PTO penny carnival

The Du Quoin FFA Alumni are excited to announce that they will be hosting a silent auction. Thursday, March 27 from 6-8 p.m. during the Du Quoin PTO penny carnival held at the elementary school gym and commons.

The proceeds from this auction will be used to help fund high school FFA members' costs of attending events like the state and national FFA conventions, leadership camp and other leadership building activities. These events and conferences are an essential part of an FFA member's career and target personal growth, career success and the grooming of their premier leadership skills.

However beneficial these events might be, they can carry a hefty price tag. This high cost can hamper the ability for some students to attend, a cost the FFA is looking to offset. By having the silent auction, the FFA is seeking to raise funds to apply toward attendance at these conferences and widening the pool of students able to expand their horizons through FFA.

"All-in-all this is why we re-chartered the Du Quoin FFA Alumni chapter," explained Joel Vancil, who graduated from DHS in 2012 and had an outstanding career.

"As of the beginning of this year, a dozen individuals met in the agricultural shop at Du Quoin High School seeking to re-charter with the state FFA Alumni Association and the national FFA Alumni Association. It has been 10 years since DHS has had an active alumni chapter for the FFA, meaning a new constitution and by-laws were drawn up at the first meeting. Those members in attendance and other members are Mr. Robert Huntley, Du Quoin agricultural instructor and FFA adviser; Joel Vancil, Du Quoin FFA Alumni chapter president; Kristin Kellerman, vice-president; Paige Holland, secretary; Baily Vancil, treasurer; Chace Epplin, Tina Kurtz, Randee Kurtz, Austin Lovelady, Donald Brayfield and John "Sam" Vancil.