Hamming it up

AZLE — For the second year in a row, the Azle High School FFA gifted hams to local first responders for Thanksgiving. Wednesday, Nov. 20, FFA officers and advisors distributed 103 hams to the Azle Fire Department, Azle Police Department, Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office and Azle Independent School District Police Department.

“It's just nice to do this for our community,” junior and Azle FFA President Drake Chavez said. “It only helps. It doesn't really take that much away from our chapter. It's just a nice thank you thing to our community. We’re thanking them for all the hard work they put in. I know, especially, like these firefighters, they risk their lives a lot to go save people from burning buildings and not just burning buildings. I know they go to a lot of other things, too, like car crashes and stuff, but they risk their lives every day. So, it's a good thank you, definitely. And I'm sure they'll appreciate it.”

The hams were sourced through Seitz, which the FFA uses to sell meats, sweets and more for its annual fundraiser. Chavez, along with sophomore Caine Stepich, vice president, sophomore Chloe Wimbish, reporter, sophomore Jeariel Arroyo Martinez, sentinel, junior Caden Coyx, freshman Tucker Merck, sophomore Brylee Kittrell, and advisors Courtney Weeks, Bradley Merck and Elizabeth Slough visited locations throughout Azle and Lake Worth to make the deliveries.

“It feels great,” said Azle Police Officer Paul Booker. “I thank you all for taking the time out to donate this. This is, I believe, the second year that y'all have done that, and it's, it's really appreciated. We appreciate what the school district is doing for the police department, and we appreciate all the students that Azle has in the district. We're always appreciative for every gift that we get around this time of year.”