SOLEDAD FFA
Make Your
Mark
by Estrella Garcia
SALINAS FFA
National Day of Service
by Tayler Baldwin
This October Salinas FFA traveled all the way to Indianapolis to go to the National
FFA Convention & Expo! In Indianapolis, we volunteered at a local food bank for
National Days of Service and learned about the importance of giving back to
those in need. We also went on a Agriculture Industry tour, where we got to make
some awesome candles! We discovered how Agriculture impacts businesses in
ways that we don’t initially realize. We also had tons of fun stocking up on FFA
gear from the FFA Store, going to some great sessions and watching our President
Donald Trump speak to us up close! Overall, we learned a lot about FFA and had
many new experiences and learned a lot about Ag!
Over the summer our
newly elected officer
team spent their retreat
in beautiful San Luis
Obispo County. As
they planned diligently for the upcoming year they chose
a theme to showcase what to strive towards. This year’s
theme for Soledad FFA is Make Your Mark! With this
theme it has plans to inspire members to get out of their
comfort zone, get involved within the chapter and leave
their mark, no matter on how big or little it is. We have
plenty of opportunities to encourage our members to get
involved and MAKE THEIR MARK. By doing so, they will
leave their legacy within the chapter!
RIGHETTI FFA
Kinderpatch
by Brooke Barredo
Every year in October, Righetti FFA Ag Department holds its Annual Kinderpatch event
on campus. Over 800 kindergarten students and teachers from the local Santa Maria
Valley school districts attend the event. This year marks over 25 years that the Righetti
Ag Department has hosted and developed this community tradition. Righetti FFA members
planted and harvested over 1,500 pumpkins for the event through SAE projects. The
kindergartners who attended were able to “pick” their own pumpkin, decorate it, and take
it home at no cost. More than 200 FFA members assisted in hosting a variety of agriculture
games and educational activities including an SAE petting zoo. Each year the event has gotten bigger and better. FFA members organize and manage
the activities under the supervision of their advisors. Many valuable lessons and management skills are used by all students to make the Kinderpatch a
success. The event has become a “community tradition” for generations.
STONE RIDGE CHRISTIAN FFA
Awards Given at 2nd Annual Banquet
by Isabella Alexander
Stone Ridge Christian FFA was able to celebrate a successful 16 Greenhand degree and
17 Chapter degree recipients during November. Even though it’s only their second year
of being a part of the CA FFA Association, their FFA program includes almost half of their
150-student body at Stone Ridge. Thursday morning was the initiation ceremony, a new
tradition for SRC FFA. Greenhand recipients get to stamp their hands with green paint and
enjoy donuts with the rest of their friends in celebration of their accomplishments. Later on
that night, members are recognized with a certificate and pin which they can display
on their blue corduroy jacket. The Stone Ridge Christian FFA officer team was able to
diligently plan this banquet and run it, thanks to the help of a mentor advisor. The ceremony
was a success, and students were excited to receive their awards as FFA members. •
California FFANEWS • PAGE 15 • Spring 2019