Waterford FFA’s 40th annual Hog Roast serves up 800 meals
Ellen Antill enjoys dessert Thursday at the annual Waterford FFA Hog Roast alongside her grandfather Dale Hill, who retired from the Waterford Local school district. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Waterford FFA member Colten Jones stirs pork during the annual Hog Roast event Thursday at Waterford High School. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Members of the Waterford FFA chapter serve lunch to community members Thursday during the annual Hog Roast at Waterford High School. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Former Waterford Local Schools art teacher Kathy Adams, third from right, chats with Waterford High School teachers Beth Morris and Lisa Wagner during the annual FFA Hog Roast Thursday at the high school. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Members of the Waterford FFA chapter serve lunch to community members Thursday during the annual Hog Roast at Waterford High School. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Members of the Waterford FFA prepared more than 800 meals of smoked pork, baked beans, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut and more for community members to eat at Waterford High School or pick up to go at Thursday’s annual Hog Roast. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Ellen Antill enjoys dessert Thursday at the annual Waterford FFA Hog Roast alongside her grandfather Dale Hill, who retired from the Waterford Local school district. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Waterford FFA member Colten Jones stirs pork during the annual Hog Roast event Thursday at Waterford High School. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Members of the Waterford FFA chapter serve lunch to community members Thursday during the annual Hog Roast at Waterford High School. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Former Waterford Local Schools art teacher Kathy Adams, third from right, chats with Waterford High School teachers Beth Morris and Lisa Wagner during the annual FFA Hog Roast Thursday at the high school. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Members of the Waterford FFA chapter serve lunch to community members Thursday during the annual Hog Roast at Waterford High School. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Members of the Waterford FFA prepared more than 800 meals of smoked pork, baked beans, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut and more for community members to eat at Waterford High School or pick up to go at Thursday’s annual Hog Roast. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
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WATERFORD -- Faculty and alumni believe the first Waterford FFA Hog Roast was held in 1983.
That made Thursday's event the 40th anniversary edition, with approximately 500 pounds of pork smoked over the weekend by students, advisers and volunteers and more than 800 meals served to community members at Waterford High School or to go.
"I love doing the hog roast," said FFA President Emma Hartline, a senior at Waterford. "I just like … all of us working together really hard."
Waterford agriculture teacher and FFA adviser Matt Hartline, Emma's father, said the event is mostly student-driven. Approximately 30 FFA members prepared the pork in shifts on Saturday, using a smoker built and refurbished over the years by their predecessors.
"It's a staple here in the community, and really it's a payback or a pay-it-forward kind of event," Matt Hartline said.
The community supports the FFA program to the tune of $80,000 to $100,000 a year, he said. And although there was no charge for Thursday's meal of pork, baked beans, mashed potatoes, sauerkraut, a roll and dessert, those eating still made donations, totaling a record of more than $6,500.
That money will support the chapter's Soils team's trip to a national competition in Oklahoma. It's the second such trip for Emma Hartline and sophomore Allison Huck.
"It's really fun to see the community come out and support FFA," Huck said.
Waterford business teacher Lisa Wagner was happy to do it. Her daughter was an FFA chapter president, and Wagner chaperoned a past trip to the soils competition.
"I know you don't call it dirt," she said with a laugh. "They educated me."
Wagner said she appreciates the work that goes into FFA and the opportunities it provides.
"We've been an FFA family and always will be," she said.
Wagner was glad to see Kathy Adams, her former teacher and mentor when she started with the district, at the luncheon. Adams was one of several Appletree Assisted Living residents who attended.
"They're glad to see people they haven't seen in a long time," said Tami Wilson, an Appletree employee going to the Hog Roast for the first time. "Most of them grew up around here."
All three Washington County commissioners attended as well.
"We appreciate all the time that the FFA kids put into it," Commissioner Kevin Ritter said.
"Couldn't ask for a better lunch on a Thursday," added Commissioner Charlie Schilling.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.
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Waterford FFA Hog Roast by the Numbers
* More than 800 meals prepared Thursday.
* Approximately 500 pounds of pork smoked.
* More than $6,500 in donations from the community.