This year the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) at Linganore High School (LHS) started on a new art mural to be displayed in the stairwell by the Horticultural Department of Linganore High. The NAHS got together to discuss what the mural could represent, coming up with a couple of retrospective ideas, with the Future Farmers of America (FFA) becoming the winning proposal. The FFA is an organization growing the next generation of Farmers of America to support agricultural education, leadership and future career success. This club is one of the largest, oldest clubs at Linganore.
FFA president senior Hailey Pleasants shared why she thinks it is important to represent the FFA as a part of Linganore High School.
“It’s important to represent FFA because farmers are the backbone of America,” Pleasants said. “Without farmers, there’s no clothing, there’s no food, there’s no resources. So it’s important that we’re inspiring the next generation of farmers to get out there and represent our country and what America is and keep it thriving.”
With LHS being in an area of both suburban and rural communities, agriculture, farming and animals are present everywhere; as a result, the FFA is a huge part of the community. At LHS, the FFA club has over 200 active members, making it one of the biggest FFA chapters in the state. The FFA advisors are career and technical education (CTE) teachers Tom Hawthorne, Pat Beachy and Krista Hartley.
Linganore art teacher Christian Madenspacher is one of the National Art Honor Society advisors at LHS and shared his opinion on why the FFA was chosen to be featured in the mural.
“The FFA mural represents [a] vast farming community locally and at the state level,” said Madenspacher. “The FFA program is the largest in the state, an absolute show of commitment from our amazing teachers like Ms. Beachy and Mr. Hawthorne who have built up and maintained the program here at Linganore High School.”
At LHS there are many available agricultural courses. Some include horticulture, introduction to agricultural science and technology, horse care and management, forestry/wildlife management and pre-vet small animal care. These courses and teachers support the student members of Linganore’s FFA, which means a lot to the people who are involved with it.
“So, to me, it [FFA] was a place for me to meet people who have the same agriculture background as me and a place where I can find my spot and learn and where I can develop my future career,” Pleasants said. “So, to me, it’s a great resource for students to get agricultural knowledge and leadership training, which is very important when you go into the workforce.”
The NAHS intends to represent the different sectors of agriculture, farming, Maryland and the environment, within their mural. NAHS sophomores Erika Boeing and Jenna Ablondi are currently painting the mural with a projected completion by 2026 for the art show next spring.
“The completed mural will reflect the community and broader region, under the state of Maryland; hence, the creative use of the state flag,” Madenspacher said. “Depictions of farm lands and horticultural undertones, along with the bay bridge in the backdrop–[which is] reflective of the vast ecosystem of the Chesapeake Region–all illustrate the interconnection of the local and state ideas.”
For NAHS members, working on murals is leaving a piece of them and their work at LHS to be remembered and admired.
“I think it’s pretty fun, and I think it’s a good opportunity,” said Boeing. “I think I’m gonna remember it for a really long time.”
Madenpacher shared his belief that it is important to have artwork like this mural because of the unity it presents.
“These grand-sized murals are important to be bold and beautiful; moreover, [they are]representative of community and connection, again, emphasizing the undertone of togetherness,” Madenspacher said.
