Mrs. Tracy Brunton has made a strong impact on FFA through her hard work and dedication to her students. When I asked Mrs. Brunton how she prepares her students for competitions, she said she gives them many research tools and plenty of time to learn their topics. She believes it is very important that students want to study and improve. She also said she is lucky to have students with great attitudes and a strong love for FFA.
I asked Mrs. Brunton if it is difficult to get everyone signed up for their competitions. She said registering students is easy, but it can be expensive. To help pay for competitions, she organizes several fundraisers, including the FFA strawberry sale, a fruit and cheese sale, and the FFA alumni pancake breakfast.
When asked if there are any competitions they do not usually attend, Mrs. Brunton explained that they do not often participate in Leadership Development Events (LDEs). She said this is because very few students have shown interest in those competitions.
I also asked Mrs. Brunton where she got her coaching style. She said she developed her own style over the years by learning which teaching methods worked best for her students.
Mrs. Brunton chooses competitions that she knows well and that students care about. She believes that when students are interested, they work harder and perform better, which leads to more success.
Over the years, Mrs. Brunton has coached teams in all Career Development Events (CDEs). Two competitions stand out the most: wildlife and soils. These are the areas where she has the most knowledge and can help students the most.
When asked which competition had brought the most success, Mrs. Brunton said it was soil judging. She has had five teams qualify for the national soils competition, which is a big accomplishment.
Finally, I asked Mrs. Brunton who has helped her the most throughout the years. She said Mr. Uppena has been her biggest helper. He has traveled with the team to many national competitions and has a lot of experience in soil judging.
Mrs. Brunton’s dedication and leadership have helped many students succeed. The legacy she is leaving with Potosi’s FFA will continue through the students she has taught and inspired.