Tall Corn FFA hosts belated but appreciated awards banquet

Tall Corn FFA members last week were finally able to celebrate an abbreviated year of accomplishments.

Last Tuesday, the Tall Corn FFA chapter hosted its annual awards banquet, which is usually held in March. The event was postponed shortly before the original scheduled date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students and family members gathered at the show ring on the Franklin County Fairgrounds and enjoyed a hamburger dinner provided by the Franklin County Cattle-men before students were invited to receive their awards and certificates.

Tall Corn FFA instructor Kyle O’Brien, who is in his first year in the position, said that the modified banquet was an appreciated and needed punctuation on a year that ended with very little warning.

“Being able to show my appreciation to my students and seeing them light up to be back together again means so much,” he said. “FFA is one of those organizations that allows them to be together with their friends and to see that taken away was a little heartbreaking.

“Being back here tonight, even though it’s not the normal banquet, it meant way more to them than even the biggest of banquets would,” he added.

While the banquet is the way the FFA chapter ties up its year, O’Brien said the timing of the banquet this year not only allows a celebration of the previous year’s accomplishments, but an introduction to the new year ahead.

“It gets people back in that mindset of being in the community, being social,” he said. “This event really excited me to see all these students again.”

While businesses, organizations and individuals have all been impacted in some way by the pandemic, O’Brien said he was amazed at the response and support the chapter received when planning the banquet. He said the willingness to donate and help despite an abundance of uncertainty show the value of the chapter to the community.

“It shows how deep our roots go as Tall Corn FFA and the rich heritage we have in the community,” he said. “People have been donating to this banquet for countless years and even with the virus going on, they didn’t even think about it.

“I don’t think a single person hesitated when I asked if they’d donate or help in any way,” he added.