Moniteau High School junior Mike Manual is part of the school's award-winning FFA program. At a recent event, Mike's team placed second for demonstrating how to build a bench that also converts to a picnic table.

Butler County is filled with a variety of people doing interesting things. This weekly feature offers snapshots of some of them by asking them five questions. The latest installment appears below.

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CHERRY TWP — Moniteau High School's football squad is not the only winning team at the school.

Moniteau's FFA program had three teams place in the top 10 in the Demonstration Team Competition at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg.

“It shows how hard our teams here at the school work in different competitions,” said junior Mike Manual of Petrolia.

Mike's team demonstrated how to build a bench that also converts into a picnic table.

The team, consisting of Mike, Dustin Danner, Forest Scheerbaum, Richard Boscia and alternate Tyler Scott, took second place.

They designed the bench themselves and have been working on the demonstration all year.

The team is building many benches/tables not just to practice demonstrations, but also to donate and sell.

“We have built two benches for the school that we have donated to the school for benefits and charities,” Mike said. “We also donated one to the Relay for Life team for the event.”

The public will also be able to purchase different styles of these benches or order a customized one from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday at the Field, Fish and Game Night at Moniteau High School.

QUESTION: What is the Field, Fish and Game Night?ANSWER: It's our annual event that we hold each year at the school.It brings the community together.Families can come and enjoy the evening, play the games and learn hunting techniques and skills.We have guest speakers that specialize in game calling and weapons such as rifles, shotguns and bows that come and set up.Different vendors come in showing off antlers from different bucks they shot.

QUESTION: How do you think this night benefits the community?ANSWER: It brings the community all together for one night and allows you to see what the FFA programs are doing.

QUESTION: What made you first want to join FFA?ANSWER: My brothers were involved in it, and the FFA fits my personality and what career I'm looking into, (which is) something in architecture and construction.

QUESTION: What do you like most about the FFA?ANSWER: The trips we go on to the different competitions; you get to meet different people from different schools; and the different leadership skills you get to learn.

QUESTION: Why do you think it is important to have programs like FFA?ANSWER: Kids have different personalities and different careers and it kind of gets you away from classwork and bookwork and out in the shop, doing hands-on projects and such.And doing these state competitions helps with public speaking.

<B>WHAT: </B>Moniteau FFA's annual Field, Fish and Game Night<B>WHEN: </B>Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday<B>COST: </B>$2; children 12 and younger are free<B>WHERE: </B>Moniteau High School, 1810 West Sunbury Road, West Sunbury.The second-place state winning project, which is a bench that converts into a picnic table, will be available to purchase at the event.Those interested will be able to order a predesigned bench/table, or customize it to their liking.For more information, contact Moniteau High School at 724-637-2091.