This past summer, the Cuba City FFA chapter, along with the Blackhawk FFA chapter, took 14 students to Louisiana on a service trip to help the National Fish and Wildlife Service at Bayou Lacombe.
FFA members appreciated the many contributing sponsors in this area, which allowed the FFA members to help the people of Louisiana in cleaning up trash along roadways and the Bayous.
The people were very grateful for any amount of help we gave them. FFA members didn't truly realize how much hurricane Katrina still affects the people of Louisiana today. It is one of those events in life when you know exactly what you were doing the moment Katrina hit. Many people had goose bumps just talking about their Katrina experience to FFA members. After assisting the NFWS, FFA members traveled to New Orleans and drove through the 9th ward. Seeing the ghost like area and witnessing the devastation that still remains, was truly a life changing experience for FFA members.
The trip was not all work as FFA members were able to visit the North Mississippi Fish hatchery in Enid, MS. The hatchery is equipped to produce multiple cool and warm-water species including: northern largemouth bass, southern walleye, paddlefish, alligator gar, white crappie, black crappie, Magnolia crappie, grass carp, bluegill and red ear sunfish.
In Louisiana, FFA members were able to see the commercial side of Louisiana on a guided tour through the Bayou. The tour guide entertained members with stories about growing up in the bayou as they learned about life in the swamp. FFA members were able to get up close and personal to large alligators, which swam up next to the boat.
Jill Van Schyndle said the Cuba City FFA chapter would like to take an opportunity to thank all those who helped make this trip possible. The support has encouraged members to help others and given them a once in a lifetime experience.
Cuba City FFA chapter visits the Louisiana Bayou