SACRAMENTO, March 27, 2022 — Future Farmers of America (FFA) members and supporters from across the state of California returned to the Golden 1 Center for the second session of 94th State FFA Leadership Conference in Sacramento with “Adventure for All” as a session theme.
“No matter what adventure you're on,” said Charles Parker, State FFA advisor, “you're here because of your agriculture teacher and your agriculture teacher’s plan for you.”
Karen Ross, California Department of Food & Agriculture Secretary, gave special remarks to the assembled crowd, asking students to be ambassadors for California agriculture and to consider a career in public service.
“I take inspiration from you, the youth of this state, for your energy, your intelligence, your compassion and the poise that I see,” Ross said. “Every time I meet students from FFA, that [attidude] says ‘that’s from FFA.’”
New and reinstated chapters were recognized, as California FFA welcomed back the Cloverdale and Qunicy chapters while introducing the Los Banos-Los Banos Middle, Buena Park Middle, Crescent City-Sunset, Sebastopol-West County, Groveland, Huntington Beach, Marysville-Paragon Collegiate Academy, Lebec-El Tejon Middle School and Fresno-San Juaquin Memorial chapters.
Erik Robinson, Vice President of National FFA, also made gave remarks, encouraging members to show resilience.
“When the pressure is on, whenever you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders,” Robinson said, “choose to be resilient.”
Charles Parker, State FFA Advisor, gave remarks to students, reflecting on his own experience as an ag student, teacher and finally as an advisor, and the return of an in-person conference.
“This week I ask that you take a moment,” Parker said, “extend a thankful hand to your FFA advisor, and thank them for allowing you to be part of this adventure you’re on.”
Lastly, Reagan Denny, State FFA Sentinal, gave her retiring address, asking members to treat each other with kindness and grace, as we don’t know “the full story” as we speak to others.
“If you’re sitting here and you're going through something that feels bigger than yourself and you're embarrassed and you're scared to talk about it because it’s not perfect,” Denny said, “please know these people in this [FFA] jacket are here for you. Every single one of them has a story too … find the people here that are willing to see beyond your perfect Instagram self … know that just by being here, you are enough.”
The third session of the 94th State FFA Leadership Conference will be held at the Golden 1 Center later this evening at 9:00 p.m.
For any media inquiries, please contact Harrison Reilly at news@californiaffa.org. He can also be reached at 707-337-9539. To learn more about California FFA, visit calaged.org.
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About California FFA: The California Association FFA is part of a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 735,000 student members in 8,817 local FFA chapters across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
