News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The Van Buren County High School FFA is taking orders for handmade picnic tables and benches.
Agriculture Teacher Lance Smith said throughout the entire school year,
orders are open for six foot to 12 foot tables. Smith said everything is student built.
“They go in, they make all the cuts, they take all the measurements, they do all the building,” Smith said. “It gives them real world, applicable skills where they’re reading tape measures. They’re doing the fractional math and getting the hands on approach to everything. They’re able to see this and turn and go into the community to different businesses, different homes, different places like that.”
Smith said buyers comes from out of state and around the region to get these handmade tables and benches each year. Smith said the support for these student’s work opens the door to what makes being an FFA member special.
“It allows us to buy jackets for some of our members. It allows us to go and pay for field trips that we are able to go on, hopefully when some of this mess blows over,” Smith said. “It pays for all of our contests that we are able to participate in as an FFA Club and buy a few things for the shop as well.”
Smith said the students take pride in the club, since it is the one outlet in school where they can use their hands and get away from books and computers. He said that drive to create professional products will be seen in their made to order woodwork.
“We don’t make anything and just leave it sitting, we wait until we have orders and we go from there,” Smith said. “I can try to give you the best time frame as when we will have it done and we’ll set up a time to come get it during the school day and get you taken care of.”
Smith said that prices vary on table sizes, a six foot table starts at $200 and a 12 foot table is $330.
He said benches start at $100. The Van Buren County High School FFA will take orders all school year, which can be placed by calling Van Buren County High School and asking for Lance Smith.
