IN FOCUS: How FFA is shaping the future of East Texas students
Longview becomes largest FFA chapter in Texas, nation
Longview's FFA chapter made history in March when they were recognized as the largest FFA chapter in Texas and across the United States. Originally standing for Future Farmers of America, the FFA has expanded to offer students all kinds of opportunities beyond farming and raising animals.
'We offer an animal science pathway, a food science pathway, a horticulture pathway. We are adding an ag-business pathway,' Longview FFA advisor and ag teacher, Gail Coulter said. 'So anything from basic leadership skills to beekeeping, is what we look at. We have vet science, we have a meat processing facility. We have greenhouses and floral design. We cover all the bases in agriculture as much as possible.'
According to Longview ISD, their FFA chapter has grown to include 1,319 members. Coulter told Nolan about how excited she is that more and more students are getting access to all the opportunities that the FFA makes available.
'I feel like the kids have so many opportunities that it's amazing for these kids to have this. It's it's amazing to me,' Coulter said. I've been in the program teaching agriculture for many years, and it just makes my heart explode with excitement for these kids and the opportunities that it avails for them.'
Longview ISD FFA Chapter Vice President Brynn Woods explained that FFA has something for everyone no matter what career interests them.
Longview ISD FFA students, instructors discuss becoming largest chapter in U.S.
'There's speaking development events, leadership development events, career development events. There is something for everyone, as well as showing animals,' Woods said. 'I personally don't show any animals and I give speeches and I'm an area officer and a chapter officer, and that's typically where I spend most of my time in FFA. But I know many people who do show animals and they love it and that's great. I think that FFA is such a great organization because it is so inclusive of everyone.'
Woods and Longview FFA chapter reporter Trisha Dhana both talked about how the FFA helped bring them out of their shells by helping them learn social speaking skills.
'Whenever I first joined FFA back in eighth grade, I could not talk in front of people. I could not start a conversation, I could not I couldn't go up to someone and be like, hi, my name's Brynn, what's your name?,' Woods explained. 'But FFA has taught me through the years that I've been involved that I can talk to people. I can now give speeches in front of people. I can now openly have a discussion with people, and I've really just come out of my shell.'
Former Henderson FFA student makes school history
Dhana agreed by explaining how reciting the FFA Creed in class helped her become more social.
'Because of me doing Creed and talking in front of my peers, I had to say it in front of class to practice,' Dhana said. 'That really got me out of my shell and I was able to talk to more people, be more social and have open conversations where I'm not being shy about it.'
To learn more about all of their programs, visit the FFA Association online. To see the full episode of East Texas In Focus covering the FFA, watch the video at the top of this article.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Associated Press
19-07-2025
- Associated Press
How a federal monument's new welcome center in Maine honors Native Americans
ATOP LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, Maine (AP) — The founder of Burt's Bees envisioned a tribute to Henry David Thoreau when she began buying thousands of acres of logging company land to donate for what would become the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. But there was a major pivot: The monument's new welcome center tells its story not from the perspective of the famed naturalist but through the eyes of the Wabanaki tribes who were the land's original inhabitants. Roxanne Quimby's family collaborated with four tribal nations, private entities and federal officials to create the $35 million center that the National Park Service opened to the public on June 21, providing a focal point for the 87,500-acre (354 square kilometer) monument. Dubbed 'Tekαkαpimək' (pronounced duh gah-gah bee mook), which means 'as far as the eye can see' in the Penobscot language, the contemporary wood-clad structure atop Lookout Mountain provides a stunning view of Katahdin, a mountain of key importance to Penobscot Nation, one of four Wabanaki Confederacy tribes in present-day Maine. 'It's a sacred mountain. For Penobscot people, it's really the heart of our homeland,' said Jennifer Neptune, a Penobscot who contributed artwork and written interpretations for the exhibits. Reflecting the land's Native stewards Philanthropic funds covered the construction costs and land purchases for the monument, which is now now maintained by the park service. Tekαkαpimək donors included L.L. Bean, Burt's Bees and the National Park Foundation, funneled through the Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters, along with the Quimby family. Quimby sold Burt's Bees, maker of lip balm and other products, as she turned her attention to philanthropy. Off the grid and reachable only by unpaved roads, the center features an amphitheater and eastward lookout for sunrise ceremonies led by the Maliseet, Mi'kmaq, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes, known collectively as the 'people of the dawn.' The vista stretches over land the tribes traversed for thousands of years. The other side faces Katahdin, which at 5,269 feet (1,606 meters) is Maine's tallest peak. Inside, exhibits and artwork teach visitors about birch bark canoes, ancient fishing techniques, the night sky and local wildlife, with translations in Wabanaki languages. Floor tiles reveal an intricate map of tributaries to the Penobscot River, which flows past the island home of the Penobscot reservation to the ocean. The welcome center has opened amid President Donald Trump's campaign to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives nationwide, including by issuing an executive order aimed at 'restoring truth and sanity to American history' that prompted Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to order a review of signs, memorials and statues. While the Trump administration's moves have created some unease, a formal management agreement between the federal government and the tribal nations involved should protect the center's focus on the Native Americans who were stewards of this land for centuries, said Quimby's son, Lucas St. Clair, who marshaled his mother's effort to have the land donated to the National Park Service. 'We can do better about teaching the real history of the United States,' and the welcome center attempts that, he said. 'It's not an insult to America. We're not trying to talk badly about America,' he said. Pivoting the focus When Quimby began buying the land in the 1990s, she was inspired by Thoreau's travels through the region, which included an 1857 journey led by a Penobscot guide, Joe Polis, that he chronicled in 'The Maine Woods.' But the focus began to shift in 2014 when her son joined a group led by tribal leaders that retraced Thoreau's lengthy travels on the 150th anniversary of that book's publication. St. Clair realized there was a richer story to tell. St. Clair began consulting with the tribes, only to be humbled two years later, after President Barack Obama's interior secretary traveled to Maine to celebrate the land's designation as a national monument. A tribal leader chided St. Clair because no tribal members were invited to speak. The omission had revealed a cultural blind spot: 'It just felt like, oh my gosh, I missed the boat on this one,' St. Clair recounted. Another pivotal moment came after the unveiling of the first welcome center design, which Neptune said was inspired by a New England farmhouse-style structure that once served loggers in the area. Tribal representatives felt the design smacked of colonialism and oppression, Neptune said. Lawyers were brought in to protect tribal heritage and intellectual property, while the non-natives involved made deeper efforts to understand Wabanaki culture, and the architect collaborated with an expanded tribal advisory board on a new design evoking a moose's antlers, inspired by a story of a tribal hero. James Francis, the Penobscot Nation's tribal historian, hopes this collaboration serves as a template for future projects involving Native Americans. 'The real achievement of this project was the connection to Maine and how it was done — bringing in the Wabanaki people and giving them a voice,' he said. Would Thoreau approve? Quimby said the original design was beautiful, but the discussions with tribal members were eye-opening. 'The more we went along with it, the more we realized that they could make an enormous contribution,' Quimby said. According to the tribe, Thoreau made a major contribution to Penobscot history by documenting their place names, and once wrote in a journal that 'the Indian language reveals another wholly new life to us.' Thoreau would approve of Quimby's steps to conserve land for future generations, said Will Shafroth, former president and CEO of the National Park Foundation, which raises money to assist the National Park Service. 'You have to believe that Thoreau would basically sit on the side of the river and thank God she and her family did this,' Shafroth said.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Yahoo
Mom Called ‘Dramatic' For Hiring a Lifeguard For Her Kindergartener's Pool Party
A mom who hired a lifeguard for her daughter's pool party was called 'dramatic' and 'extra.' Water safety experts say she's smart. 'If everybody is watching, it means nobody is watching,' Morgan Coulter, a mother of two in New Jersey, tells Morgan said in a TikTok video: 'I hired a certified lifeguard for my daughter's 6th birthday party and I had a couple of comments about it that I was honestly surprised to get.' The mom continued, 'A lot of people said that it was too much, extra, dramatic, wasn't necessary ... I kind of thought it would be helpful.' The mom asked in the video, 'How would you feel if you had a kindergarten-going-into-first-grade kid, or similar ages, and you went to a birthday party with a pool and they had a lifeguard? I personally would be like, 'OMG thank you so much.' Obviously, you should still watch your kid but it's an extra safety net.' Morgan mentioned that her kids are often likelier to listen to an authority figure, like a lifeguard, than their parents. She added, 'If I'm like, 'Hey, stop messing around ... stop trying to drown your sister,' it's going to fall on deaf ears, but if a lifeguard blows a whistle and is like, 'Hey, knock it off,' they're listening every time. How would you feel about having a lifeguard at a 6-year-old's birthday party? Is it too much?' TikTok comments leaned toward being pro-lifeguard. 'I would be THRILLED to show up to a pool party to find a lifeguard! What a relief for the parents.' 'Someone there whose literal job is to ensure the safety of kids? Why would anyone scoff at that?' 'In groups, people think, 'Everyone is watching' and it makes people careless.' 'Only near-drowning incident I've ever witnessed was at a pool party for K-5 kids. I was shocked at how distracted everyone was.' 'My child not drowning isn't 'extra.'' 'Great idea. People can find fault in everything.' Morgan tells that her above-ground pool is only four-and-a-half feet deep; however, 20 children will be splashing in the water. According to Morgan, one invitee asked, 'Why would you hire a lifeguard? That seems like a waste of money.' 'It seemed like survivor bias — like, when people argue, 'We didn't have seatbelts and we turned out fine,'' says Morgan. Morgan's husband Thomas Coulter, a certified emergency nurse, tells that lifeguards are not only trained in CPR; their focus is entirely on water safety. With friends and family, says Thomas, 'There can be a blanket sense of comfort that someone else is watching the kid ... and that is a false security.' Hiring a lifeguard is highly suggested for pool parties, Wyatt Werneth, a spokesperson for the American Lifeguard Association, tells Drowning is the leading cause of death for children younger than 4 and one of the top causes of death for kids 5-14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Werneth says potential lifeguards should know the following information before arriving at the pool: The age of children present. The number of children who will be in the water at any given time. The children's swim skill level. The depth of and location of the pool. Werneth adds that lifeguards trained for shallow water, for example, may not have the same training as deep-water or open-water lifeguards. If hiring a lifeguard is not in your budget, says Werneth, use the 'Water Watcher' system in which adults switch off supervising children in the water. The website Safe Kids Worldwide offers downloadable 'Water Watcher' cards to hold when a watcher is on duty. This article was originally published on


Buzz Feed
08-07-2025
- Buzz Feed
21 Pictures Of Pets Before And After Being Adopted
I don't know about you, but whenever I need to feel something, I run over to the "BeforeNAfterAdoption" subreddit where families are encouraged to share photos of their rescued animals. Here are pets whose lives have been forever changed by a good home: These two dogs were found locked inside a cage amongst trash. A new family stumbled upon them, freed them, and gave them a home. Before and after: This little one was found dirty and barely moving. A little medicine, and she's a whole new cat. Before and after: This is Tabsi. She had been hit by a car and badly injured before rescue. This is her now! Before and after: Vets were not initially confident in this kitty's survival. But he's thriving! Before and after: This pup was close to starving. Now he's well fed and beyond loved. Before and after: This is Flynn, a scrappy street cat. His owner says that now, Flynn has undergone a "10/10 glow-up." Before and after: "Lots of love (and some food of course) can heal 🤍," this dog's owner captioned their photo. And they're so right! Before and after: Adonis arrived at a shelter with a cauliflower ear and a damaged shoulder. Now he's named after the titular, fighting character from Creed. Before and after: Angela joined her family with a serious need of a groomer. Just look at her now! Before and after: Merlin started as a dumpster cat. But he's living the good life now. Before and after: Lucas was shy, nervous, and underfed. Now he loves cuddles, long walks, playing with his toys, and enjoying a good meal. Before and after: Like some of our other friends, Stuart was previously underfed. But he's got more than enough now. Before and after: Mochi was found in a box outside of a Walmart. And his owners fell head over heels in love. Before and after: This kitty's owner said, "The moment [he] arrived in [his] forever home, everything changed. [He] curled up for the first real nap of [his] life — warm, safe, and loved." "Now [he's] got a fluffy coat, a full belly, lots of cuddles, and a human who calls [him] 'the most perfect boy in the universe.'" Before and after: This pup was found tied to a chain. Now, he'll never be chained again. Before and after; Selise Geneva was found abandoned in the street. Now she's a playful kitty who purrs a ton. Before and after: This is Kash. He's gained eight healthy pounds since being rescued. Before and after: Sophie was living in an over-cramped house full of 40 other cats. Now she gets all the one-on-one attention she deserves. Before and after: Here's what this pup looked like when living at a shelter. And this is him now, in a loving home. Before and after: Mr. Beans was a bit timid at first... ...but he's got a huge personality now. Before and after: And finally, this dog's owner said he was sick and up for euthanasia when found. Eight weeks later, and he couldn't be better! Before and after: If you adopted a pet, share their before and after photos in the comments. They could be featured in an upcoming post. <3