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Round about the copper pot, students took turns stirring the apple butter for the FFA

The Lord Botetourt High School FFA members began making apple butter at 4 a.m. and by early in the afternoon, the smell permeated LBHS. It was a good smell, too.

Made in a copper kettle in the shop area of  the school, constantly stirring the apple butter with a big wooden paddle is all part of the secret to the tasty spread. "The LB FFA apple butter will retail for $7 per quart," said Stuart Byrd the FFA sponsor and a teacher at the school. All funds go to support FFA projects.

Lots of hardwork goes into the peeling and stirring of the apple butter. In the end, Byrd hoped to can about 140  quarts with today's batch. Contact Byrd at 992-1261 to buy a jar.

Those who helped today included a senior citizen, Warren Rhodes of Troutville, who is a real advocate for the LBHS FFA. He sells tickets to chicken barbeques and really promotes the young folks along the way and of course helps with the apple butter. "We need to support these young people and what they do," he said.

The LBHS FFA will make another batch of apple butter this Saturday and Sunday at Ikenberrys on the Roanoke Road during their annual fall festival as well.

They also have tickets on sale now for the local Young Farmers Annual Chicken Bar B Que November 14 which consists of a half chicken, baked potato, green beans and a roll. $7 donation buys a ticket. Location is the LBHS cafeteria from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. and carry out is available.

Pictured above are Zach Dove ,at the paddle, Daniel Perdue, Michael Ferguson, Warren Rhodes, Josh Parker, Matt Taylor, Hunter Boykin, Marie Galloway, and johnny Nuckles.