By Brenda Sexton , The Courier-Herald
The Enumclaw High School FFA staff is sure there are a number of "blue jackets" hanging in closets across the Plateau waiting for a second chance at life.
"The joke here in the ag department is there must be about 300 of them gracing the backs of cupboards in Enumclaw," said agriculture department member Paddy Lewis Irwin.
She and FFA advisers Gary Parkert and Troy Clinton are banking on the fact there are former FFA members who either forgot to return a borrowed jacket or are willing to part with their own to help outfit this year's, and future year's, crop of students.
Memories and pride, like the ink-blue corduroy jacket fabric, don't seem to fade and the EHS ag staff would like to see the tradition continue.
"There's nothing like being at the state convention when there are 3,000 of those blue jackets walking up and down the hills of Pullman," Lewis Irwin said.
With the annual Northwest Junior Livestock Show and Spring Fair coming up April 15-18 at the Western Washington Fairgrounds in Puyallup, the staff is making an all-call appeal for jackets.
"We'll really be able to put them to good use," Lewis Irwin said.
Since 1933, when delegates to the National FFA Convention adopted the blue corduroy jacket as the official dress, it has been a mainstay in the program with virtually the same look. It is part of the official dress for the show arena. Students who show animals, for example at the Northwest Junior Livestock Show, must wear a white button-down shirt with black tie, black slacks (girls wear skirts), black shoes and the blue jacket.
Typically students purchase their own jackets, but for many it's easier and more economical to borrow one from the agriculture department for shows. However, in Enumclaw, many of the loaner jackets were never returned. Currently, it has about six available, all in small, girls' sizes.
Lewis Irwin said the department would love to see the loaners back. They will also accept anyone's previously owned jacket. They will also accept donations to purchase new jackets. Each jacket costs approximately $55.
According to White River FFA adviser Todd Miller, his program hasn't experienced a similar loss, but is beset with rapid growth and won't turn away jackets if folks are interested in parting with them.
For information about donating at either program, contact the respective high schools at 360-825-7669 (EHS) or 360-829-0600 (WRHS).
Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@courierherald.com
