The 2023-24 State Officers have spent an entire year serving California FFA. Their service has enriched the lives of many members across the state as they served as ambassadors for agricultural education. During the conference, each officer has taken the stage to share their retiring address.
Session 2: Thomas Rosa, State FFA Sentinel, delivered his retiring address titled "Live Vividly." In it, Rosa motivated members to practice gratitude and to fully embrace life's offerings. He emphasized the significance of living in the present moment, remarking, “To live vividly is to stop, take a look around, and recognize what is happening at this moment. These moments are incredible, and if you blink, you miss them.”
Session 3: State FFA Reporter Piper Lakey delivered her impactful retiring address titled "The Difference." Reflecting on her personal journey, Lakey shared insights into overcoming comparisons with others and urged members to do the same. "Never waste a moment wishing you were someone else," Lakey emphasized. "Focus instead on becoming the person who makes a difference to others."
Session 4: State FFA Treasurer Sydney Marich delivered her impactful retiring address titled "Be the Light." Reflecting on her journey serving in the State FFA Office, Marich shared the illumination she experienced and offered reassurance to FFA members, reminding them of the light awaiting at the end of any challenges they face. “The more we share our stories, the brighter the light at the end of the tunnel gets,” she said. “This family that is the blue jacket was a guiding light for me, and it can be for you too.”
Session 5: State FFA Secretary Makena Stansai delivered her memorable retiring address titled "Meeting in the Middle," recounting her journey of joining FFA despite lacking prior agricultural experience. As a Temecula native, Stansai discovered the richness of FFA's offerings and emphasized the importance of sacrifices in shaping our paths. “We are in this specific room in this specific area because of sacrifices,” Stansai emphasized. “We sacrifice because we help other people; we are choosing to be a good person for other people.”
Session 6: State FFA Vice President Sierra Short delivered her heartfelt retiring address titled "Look at the View, It’s All for You." Short opened up about her personal journey of finding acceptance in high school and attributed FFA for providing her with a sense of belonging. She emphasized the significance of embracing individuality, acknowledging that everyone's life story unfolds uniquely. “Each and every one of us is different, but that’s what makes us who we are,” Short said. “You are good enough; you have value; you are important.”
Closing Session: During his retiring address, State FFA President Austin Bell reflected on his year of service and unveiled the three pillars that have guided him: community, faith, and agriculture. Bell inspired members to seek out their own pillars of purpose. “We all need something to live for,” Bell asserted. “There is something greater in this life to serve; we have to live with purpose.”
