Press release from the Pella FFA

Agricultural students at Pella High School took on a call to action to help serve their community today. A neighborhood near Pella High School had been experiencing difficulties with a rooster since Saturday morning. Between the crowing, entering peoples garages, and taking advantage of lounging on residents decks the rooster had become a pest and had established the neighborhood as a new home.

Agricultural instructor Jacob Bowers said “Agriculture students and FFA members are always looking for ways to get out into the community and make a positive difference, and you just never know what tasks the community will contact us for to help serve.” Students from two Agriculture classes spent time on Wednesday scouting the neighborhood and devising a plan to safely catch the rooster, humanely restrain him, and find a new home. Many students related the experience to catching lambs at the Pella FFA chapter’s Sheep Farm as they had to work together as a team, spread out, and remain calm when working with animals. By 10:10 Wednesday morning the rooster had been caught unharmed by Ag student Braden Hick, and was safely brought to school where a student took the rooster home to be part of her supervised agricultural experience project of raising chickens.

Agriculture student and FFA Treasurer Rylan VanDyke was especially proud to be part of this opportunity as he was able to get out of the classroom, and serve others. He is hopeful that this experience brings on a servant heart for his classmates and FFA members. In addition, he would like to see community members and groups reach out to the Agriculture Department more often asking for help so that students can be more involved in the community.

If the owner of the rooster is found and would like him back, please contact Pella High School.