Dolly Shine to Perform at Wall Ag Booster's Annual Cotton Ball Benefit

SAN ANGELO, TX - The National Future Farmers of America is an organization committed to the individual student, providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. Over the last 88 years, millions of agriculture students have donned the official FFA jacket and championed the FFA Creed.

Included in the program, students are taught parliamentary procedure, learn responsibility by raising either a sheep, hog, or calf as their class project, and have countless opportunities to participate in a variety of judging competitions. These students also learn how to work as a team and set and accomplish goals, which builds self esteem and confidence.

Forty years ago, locally, the class was offered as an elective in high school, and it was almost unheard of for girls to sign up, for Homemaking or art classes were thought of as more "appropriate." Today, however, females represent more than 45 percent of FFA members and roughly half of all state leadership positions. 

One particular area the school district is extremely proud of is its Agriculture Department, and backers go above and beyond ensuring funding is plentiful to assist students in every aspect towards their success. The Wall ISD serves approximately 1,100 students in the rural community of Wall, Texas.

Debra Friend is the Wall Ag Booster Club Reporter, and said, "We have about 120 students in the program this year, and students as young as 9 years old, or in the third grade, whichever comes first, can actually start showing their animals; and that can go all the way until they are a senior in high school."

For well over a decade, the Booster Club has held many fundraisers, and perhaps their biggest for the year will take place this Saturday, September 17.

Friend said, "Our Wall Ag Boosters Cotton Ball will be held at the St. Ambrose Hall, located 8602 Loop 570 S, in Wall. Attendees must be 21 years of age and older; happy hour starts at 5 p.m., and the meal will be served at 6 p.m., which consists of a rib-eye steak dinner. Beverages are included with the evening's admission, which is $100 per couple."

Numerous items will also be up for auction, raffle, and/or drawings.

Friend noted, "The guns available this year for the card decks are a Kimber 7MM, Beretta A300 12 gauge, and an AR. We will sell one card deck for each gun. Cards are $50 each.."

As displayed on the Wall ISD Booster Club Facebook page, several other items are up for grabs, including original art work, a Louis Vuitton handbag and an air compressor that was donated from South Plains.

Friend added, "There will also be a drawing for $5,000, and everyone who has purchased an admission ticket will be automatically entered into the drawing. All the money that we raise goes towards our Wall School Stock Show coming up in January for our FFA and 4H kids who go to Wall."  

 
After the dinner and drawings, Texas Country/Americana band 'Dolly Shine' will perform.  

"This will actually be one of the band's last performances, as they will no longer be touring after September 30; we're thrilled to have them," added Friend.

Although Dolly Shine recently celebrated their third release, Walkabout, at Blaine's Pub June 17 (click here), they announced their farewell tour dates and message to fans regarding their recent decision on their Facebook page August 15. 

Overall, the Booster Club stays busy, and Friend explained, "For the last three years, we've auctioned off and sold tickets for some really nice things, including a John Deere Gator and trailer. This year we haven't decided what our fundraiser will be, but $20,000 of the proceeds will go toward our Wall School Stock Show; and the remaining portion of it goes toward our scholarship fund to give out to our senior applicants from Wall who qualify through the FFA and Ag boosters. We also help assist with the other FFA projects that go on at Wall such as mechanics, livestock and wildlife judging, meat judging and all the other judging teams we have." 

Additionally, Friend said, "Our livestock judging team won state this year at Texas A & M in April, and they actually have the honor in going on to compete at the National FFA Convention in October in Indianapolis Indiana. We've been trying to help them raise some funds and support them along their way as well."

As for female membership, she said, "We've got several girls who show and judge and participate in many other areas. We're proud to have a girl [who is] on our national team: Ashley Wilde." 

So for those people interested in attending, the event will run until midnight. For an evening of good food, chances to win great prizes, contribute to an excellent cause, and dance the night away to Dolly Shine's farewell show, get your tickets now at www.paypal.com.

For those people unable to attend but would like to make a donation, check out the Wall ISD Booster Club on Facebook.