GILROY FFA
Chapter
Hangouts
by Alexis Young
IMPERIAL FFA
Canned Food Drive
Imperial FFA recently held a canned food drive where
any cans collected would be donated to our local food
bank. The drive lasted from October 18th to November
5th. Our members showed great interest and intent
on being apart of our small community by donating
canned food. We were very proud of our members for
showing such interest in this activity. After only 18 days,
our chapter was able to collect over 590 cans, which
ended up weighing almost 600 pounds! Our amazing
members who were active in the canned food drive
were able to enjoy a lunchtime nacho party hosted by
our Officer Team. The canned food drive served as a
great way to get our members active in the community
and be a part of a great cause.
Gilroy FFA started a new
tradition this year, Monthly
Chapter Hangouts. Once
a month, Gilroy FFA hosts
a chapter hangout to try to
promote fellowship and camaraderie within its membership. It’s usually a simple event
(board games, movie, study time), with lots of snacks! Our first hangout was held in
August where FFA members met in the ag classrooms to socialize, do their homework,
and watch a movie. The second hangout in September was a board/card game
hangout. FFA member got a chance to relax from the school day, sit down with some
friends, and play games. Whether it was board game or a card game, everyone had
a lot of fun! The latest hangout occurred right before our big football game against our
rival high school. FFA members painted posters to cheer on our FFA football players.
Gilroy FFA has many more hangouts planned for the year and we can’t wait to see our
members get involved!
FIREBAUGH FFA
Future Farmers of Japan Visits Firebaugh
Our Firebaugh chapter had the opportunity of hosting 10 students that came from Japan!
These students were a part of the Future Farmers of Japan (FFJ) and stayed for a week. We
began with a nice lunch in the library, and this is where we were introduced, starting to get
to know each other. Each student gave us a card with their name, school, and a barcode
that when scanned would take you to the program’s website. It felt good to meet people that were new and different. There was a lot we didn’t know
about them, and conversely. Simple things like going out to eat were different because there was always something to learn. Despite our boundaries
between cultures and languages we still continued to communicate with one another. These 10 students might not all know each other but were able to
form relationships and bonds with one another.
PACHECO FFA
New Beginnings, New Opportunities
by Zackary Machado
Pacheco FFA made school history on September 27, 2018, when chapter advisors,
officers, and local school board members broke ground for their on-site school barn.
Since the opening of the Pacheco High School in 2010, the chapter advisors have been
working long and hard for this to happen, and after receiving a state grant, were able
to fund the process. Their school barn will not only help serve kids who wish to show at
the local county fairs, but also to highlight a key part of the FFA Motto, “Learn by Doing”
and Career Development Events (CDEs). Thank you to all the chapter advisors and school
administration for your work and efforts to give FFA students new opportunities.
{ Continued on page 15 }
California FFANEWS • PAGE 14 • Spring 2019