FFA had various events scheduled throughout this month with the help of their FFA members and community. Thanks to the generous help of the Ag Boosters 14 students were able to attend the 2024 FFA National Convention. Gustine FFA is always grateful for all the help they receive as it helps motivate and boost the spirit of their over 400 members.
Opening and Closing is an annual event held at Gustine High School. The Opening and Closing Ceremony is performed by freshmen and the chapter officer team. This event showcases public speaking, collaboration, synchronization, and leadership. We had 11 Greenhand teams and our Chapter officer team competing. Gustine FFA had all gold and this was a result of their determination and effort. The chapter officer team had two outstanding officers. The sentinel, Justin Lopes, and the president, Isabella Cortez. To get outstanding is incredibly challenging as you compete against students who are all great leaders and team members. Along with our chapter officers, Gustine FFA’s greenhands also had a substantial amount of outstanding officers. It's an amazing way to see that your hard work has paid off, and even those who didn't get an outstanding award, still memorized and practiced cooperation with their teams.
The FFA National Convention is held annually in Indianapolis, Indiana. This event is a way to connect all states with FFA. Each year Gustine FFA can take the top 10 most involved freshmen because of their close connections with the Ag Boosters. The Ag Boosters fundraise all year to help send students on this trip. This year, students went to Indianapolis along with over 70,000 other FFA members from across the nation. They listened to the National Officer Team in sessions, went to team workshops to improve their skills, and collaborated with many other FFA members. This is a way to help motivate and ignite students’ passion for agriculture as a whole. Gustine FFA also supported and congratulated their six former members for receiving their American FFA Degree. Congratulations to Ashlyn Alamo, Austin Bell, Kaitlin Dores, Garret Gomes, Christina Moitozo, and Emma Woods, this is a huge accomplishment.
Along with the National Convention, the students took a trip to Washington D.C. Here, students learned a variety of things about their country. Visiting places like Arlington National Cemetery where Gustine FFA was honored to be able to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, museums like the National Archives, the United States Capitol, war memorials, the Washington and Lincoln Memorial and so much more. This educational trip has provided them with memorable memories and valuable historical lessons.
Gustine FFA is fortunate enough to have an amazing support system. With the help and support of their community, they can keep the new generations of agriculturalists filled with passion and gratitude. Thank you to all those who make all these trips and events possible.
