Ripley, W.Va. –WV FFA annual improvement project builds Archery stands for new range at Cedar Lakes.
Friday July 10, WV FFA Students attending the FFA State Convention, held annually at Cedar Lakes, assisted with building new archery stands at the range site on campus.
Each year for the FFA State Convention at Cedar Lakes, an improvement project is identified which students assist with. This project helps them meet their requirements for community service each year. This year, despite the rain, just over 20 students gathered at the FFA Pavilion to help construct these stands. Students from Upshur, Harrison, and Marion counties lent a hand.
Daniel Winnell, an archery coach for Ripley Middle and high schools’ archery programs, helped secure donations for the project from Carter Lumber, who donated the materials for the stands, and Bridgeport Equipment, who donated all of the targets—five bag targets, and four block targets. Daniel says he saw a need for a range at Cedar Lakes and reached out about the potential, which sparked the idea for this project. The International Bowhunting Organization (IBO) had reached out to him, inquiring about creating more opportunities for youth archery in the region. This range, once finished, will allow for more of those opportunities and provide a practice facility for the area’s National Archery in Schools Programs (NASP).
This project aligns with the organizations mission, “FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.” and their motto, “Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live, Living to Serve.” Students were walked through the process of assembling these stands and gained hands-on experience for future projects.
Holli Vanater, Director at Cedar Lakes Conference Center, says these projects not only help improve the facilities but help expand the recreational opportunities, which segues to growing the programming and events offered at Cedar Lakes.
Nick Cox, the new FFA Educational Coordinator for the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, said of the project, “First and foremost, WV FFA calls Cedar Lakes home. Each year, our members make memories while at Cedar Lakes that will last a lifetime. Whenever we have an opportunity to help update or improve Cedar Lakes, we want to do what we can. The projects that we have helped complete over the past few years allow FFA members to take pride in the fact that they have helped to take care of their home. Some of these projects have included painting cabins, preparing a sidewalk for the almost heaven swing, and [this year] constructing archery target holders. These projects allow FFA members to use skills learned in class to participate in an enjoyable and rewarding hands-on experience.”
