It’s a fair food tradition that makes customers squeal with excitement- the FFA Ham Stand has been serving country ham sandwiches to many a fairgoer for over 50 years.
Punny pork jokes aside, the operation serves a serious role in prepping local high school students with essential life skills.
Since its inception several decades ago, the ham stand has always been operated by members of the agricultural education-based organization, Future Farmers of America (FFA). Previously owned by the West Virginia FFA Association, chapters from across the state shared the responsibility of working shifts, but over time, it became more difficult for more distanced chapters to continue the arrangement. Greenbrier County FFA chapters took over the role of serving its patrons until the consolidation of the county’s eastern-end schools prompted the ham stand to be officially turned over to Greenbrier East FFA.
Though the FFA Ham Stand has changed hands across difference chapters of the organization, the popularity of the stand’s country ham sandwich has remained constant. Over the years, the menu has grown to also include other delicious fares, such as sausage sandwiches, tenderloin sandwiches, biscuits and gravy, BLT sandwiches, and the filling Pig Out Bowl, which consists of a ham, sausage, tenderloin, and sausage gravy that is sandwiched between a biscuit and topped with bacon.
Greenbrier East agriculture teachers and FFA advisors, Shelby Adkins and Emily Dunkle are there to support students in their endeavors, but as Adkins explained, “The students do all the work. They operate the grill, make the sandwiches, fill the drinks, take orders, and assist customers in every way. This is a great opportunity for our students to learn leadership skills, communication skills, and a general work ethic.”
The purpose of the FFA Ham Stand is not only to facilitate valuable life skills, but also to raise money for educational opportunities.
Students who volunteer their time to work three shifts at the stand qualify to attend the chapter’s yearly educational field trip, with this year’s destination being the Pennsylvania Farm Show.
Any additional funds go towards competition trips, materials, and any other FFA needs. Every purchase and every interaction with students help to promote the agricultural initiatives that the organization strives hard to maintain. Adkins described agriculture education as a three-circle model, consisting of classroom instruction, Supervised Agricultural Experience, and FFA.
She elaborated, “Agriculture classroom instruction includes topics of animal science, plant science, natural resources, and mechanics. Supervised Agricultural Experience program is a high school credit earned for the experiences they are involved in outside of class time. FFA experiences involve public speaking, communication, parliamentary procedure, leadership, and team building. Students of all backgrounds can find a place within agriculture education and FFA.”
With decades of experience under their belt, the FFA Ham Stand has seen several generations of workers to cross its threshold, some from the same families. This fair-time tradition brings customers back every year with a smile on their face- some eager to support the organization and some eager for the tasty treats.
Adkins remarked on how much she enjoys seeing the patrons that repeatedly frequent the stand and added, “The advisors and the students truly appreciate the support we receive from the community. We are fortunate to live in a rural area full of people who understand not only the importance of agriculture, but the lifelong skills that the FFA can give to the members.”
She encourages FFA Alumni and anyone else that wants to support their mission to consider joining Greenbrier East FFA Alumni and Supporters, which always welcomes new members and will reconvene in September with meetings at 6 p.m. every second Monday of the month in the Ag Shop at Greenbrier East High School.
