MVAO FFA's Annual Summer Trip

    MVAO FFA took their summer trip from June 28th through July 7, 2025. Pull out your atlas and follow along as you read about their trip! The FFA Members who went on the summer trip were Renee Oberreuter, Autum Hansen, Sam Schrunk, Elsie Hein, Nina McMillen, Mia Uhl, and Teagan Blume. The chaperones who went were Mr. Wimmer, Mrs. Wimmer, Rob McMillen, and Daniel McLain. Day one of the trip, they traveled from Mapleton to Cody, Wyoming. They attended the Cody Night Rodeo and then went camping. Day two, they started their tour of Yellowstone with Artist Point, where they viewed the lower Yellowstone Falls and Yellowstone Canyon. They drove through Hayden Valley, where they saw bison and grizzly bears. They ate lunch on the shores of Yellowstone Lake and then saw Old Faithful. The Yellowstone tour was finished with a hike to the Grand Prismatic Spring Overlook. To end the day, they drive to Idaho Falls, Idaho, to camp for the night. Day three, they drove to Twin Falls, Idaho, where they toured Moss Greenhouse, which supplies a lot of stores in the west with spring flower sales. At Moss Greenhouse, they learned what it takes to run a large greenhouse operation. The greenhouse had tons of automation and even greenhouses that would completely open in the summer to help ventilate. The owner of the greenhouse was generous enough to give each person a glow-in-the-dark petunia, which is a newly developed petunia. Then they toured Orton Botanical Garden, where they learned about different plants that grow in a high mountain desert. They then visited Shoshore Falls on the Snake River and went to the spot where Evel Knievel attempted to jump the Snake River Canyon. On the way home, they stopped at the Idaho Potato Museum in Blackfoot, Idaho. The museum was full of old potato farming equipment. The group learned about the economics of the process of growing potatoes. The girls then made BLT sandwiches for supper. Day 4, they drove to Craters of the Moon and learned about volcanic formations. They hiked to the top of the Inferno Cone and hiked through a lava tube. They then drove to Hayspur Fish Hatchery and learned how the hatchery hatches and grows the fish that are released in streams to be caught by anglers. At the hatchery, they learned how they alter the fish diet to ensure that all the fish they release are male to prevent the spread of invasive species. It was a real lesson in biology! Day 5, the group drove to Montana through Salmon, Idaho; the road was long and lonely with very few towns between. The route partially followed the path where Lewis and Clark crossed the Continental Divide and struggled to find water, which ultimately led them to the Pacific Ocean. Once they reached Hamilton, Montana, they stopped for lunch. After lunch, they hiked to the Blodgett Canyon Overlook. It was a three-mile round-trip hike that went up several switchbacks to a spot in the Bitterroot Mountains where you could overlook a canyon. It was a difficult hike for the group, but well worth the end view. After they continued their drive to Ronan, Montana, where they camped for the night. Day 6, They toured a cherry orchard on the east side of Flathead Lake where they learned about how a cherry farmer grows, harvests, and is creative to produce a value-added product, BBQ sauce, and jam. By doing this, he can increase his profit on his small orchard. They also discussed the various ways that he scares black bears away, which is a daily occurrence in his orchard. After they visited the cherry orchard, they drove to Sommers, Montana, where they toured a Longview Lavender Farm. They learned about how they started their farm and how they use agrotourism to attract Glacier National Park visitors to their farm, to help make money. After the lavender farm, the students swam in Flathead Lake and rode an alpine rollercoaster. Day 7, they drove to Glacier National Park and drove through the famous Going to the Sun Road. There were tons of people there, also driving through the narrow mountains. They then found a large parking lot to eat lunch and discovered several hikes in the Saint Mary's Lake region. They viewed a waterfall and enjoyed the mountains on the shores of Saint Mary's Lake. After they finished the road, they drove back to Missoula, Montana, to attend a Missoula Paddleheads baseball game and fireworks. Day 8, the group traveled to Missoula, Montana, to attend the farmers' market. It was an amazing market, and as they walked around downtown Missoula, they discovered an even larger art market. They then spent the day in downtown Missoula on an adventure and headed back to the campsite to rest for the long drive home the next day. Day 9, they started the long journey back home. They drove all the way across Montana, the Northeast corner of Wyoming, and into South Dakota, where they camped at Wall, South Dakota. Day 10, the trip finished with the final drive from Wall, South Dakota, to Mapleton. This summer trip was very fun for all and included adventure, grand vistas, and education about agriculture in states other than Iowa.

Emma Pithan
MVAO FFA, Reporter