Changing Courses

Is there something you think your community could greatly benefit from? For the Arkansas City FFA chapter, there was a clear answer to this question that would take the form of a disc golf course. The idea was dreamed up by chapter officers at the State Conference for Chapter Leaders in the summer of 2018. After playing disc golf at Rock Springs 4-H camp during the conference, former chapter officers Corbin and Caleb Liermann thought the community of Ark City would love their own course since one did not yet exist. Advisors Kasie Bogart, Josie Reilly and Jacob Sumpter helped point the students towards an action plan.

The project had two stages. During the first stage, the objective was to get the baskets built. This stage was completed in March 2019. The second stage involved designing a course and installing the completed baskets. Stage two was not completed until September 2020 and is still being improved upon. 

“The city is working with us to get signage, trash cans, and benches to put the finishing touches on the course,” says Bogart.

Completing the stages was not an easy task. There were many obstacles that arose during various points of construction and planning. The first was when Ark City high school would not allow the chapter to place the disc golf course on school property. Originally the motivation behind the project was to get students moving in classes like P.E. and during free time. This closed door led to an open one to work with the city, which led the chapter to Mr. Arty Hicks. Hicks has been the chapter’s biggest advocate and partner in seeing the course come to life. Little did the chapter know, Hicks is a disk golf enthusiast and has wanted to see a disc golf course in the Ark City community for years. With enthusiasm and participation at the forefront of students minds, the next obstacle arose.

After an initial Living to Serve grant was rejected, the advisors received a call from National FFA explaining that the national office loved the project and encouraged the chapter to apply for the Semester Long Living to Serve grant. The motivation behind applying for a different grand was the national office wanted the chapter to receive $1200 instead of $400. Other obstacles arose such as problems in the welding shop and a permanent location for the course. It was difficult to find a good way to bend the metal as well as hang the chains. Through experimentation and lots of hours spent trying new approaches, the baskets were completed. The other main obstacle was a new location. After the school fell through the chapter was in a predicament to find a new home for the course. 

“In the end, Arty was able to work with the city to help us design a course for R. Cox Park in Ark City,” says Bogart.

Students were highly involved in all stages of the project. They helped fill out grant applications, engineer and weld baskets and sleeves, design logos on AutoCAD for basket toppers, and install the course. The students also had the opportunity to meet with the city and Hicks. 

“We had two students with an Ag Mechanics SAE that helped lead the project constriction,” says Sumpter. “They were Kyce Morgan and Devin Baker. They helped design and construct the baskets and helped guide other FFA members to do the same.”

Without the help of the City of Arkansas City and the expertise of Arty Hicks and his disc golf club the chapter could not have completed the project. Both groups helped in designing the final course that was completed this month. 

“I think it’s a true testament to our students’ passion for this project that it finally was completed even despite a pandemic, money, location, and engineering problems” says Bogart.