This spring, Turlock High School’s FFA Fruit Tree Judging Team won a State championship under the direction of Advisor Travis Cardoso! Did you know FFA students have the opportunity to practice at the TUSD Farm where we have a variety of trees including almonds , apricots, peaches and plums? We are always looking for community support--just reach out!
The Turlock Unified School District’s farm welcomed the community in May to tour student animal projects and crops. PICTURED FROM TOP LEFT: Dennis Earl Elementary student Kiya Villareal gets up close with a couple of the farm’s goats; Brown Elementary students Abdaullah and Abed Albaker taste some peas straight off the vine; Pitman High FFA member Alexander Yanez shows off his market swine.
BY JOE CORTEZ
The Turlock City Council honored Turlock High’s FFA state championship fruit tree-judging team during a May meeting.
“We are fortunate to have a bunch of youth here who have done some amazing things and represented Turlock,” said Mayor Amy Bublak. “We just wanted to make sure they got the representation that they fully deserved.”
Junior Diego Peguero, and sophomores Alyx Barragan, Isabella Andrade, and Vivienne Gianotti-Delgado were given proclamations by Mayor Amy Bublak and posed for pictures with the full city council.
“You see that we got first place in the state, but what you don’t see is the amount of time and the amount of hours we put into practicing every week to get to that goal,” said Peguero, who spoke on behalf of the team during the meeting. “If you guys don’t know, if you get first place in a team event, you can’t compete in it again. So, we’re all moving on to a different team
“We’re all moving on to a different team next event next year, and hopefully we all stay together to try and win another state title.”
FFA — or Future Farmers of America — is an organization for students that are interested in agriculture and leadership. According to its website, the FFA helps students develop their potential and discover talents through hands-on experiences, which give members the tools to achieve real-world success.
But FFA is not solely for students with ag backgrounds or those interested in ag careers.
“In all honesty, I had no knowledge about anything related to agricultural or fruit trees,” said Barragan. “When I heard about the team, I wanted to get involved. But fruit trees really stood out to me, because we had an amazing coach in Mr. (Travis) Cardoso. I’d been in his class during my freshman year and I really wanted to join the team with him as my coach.”
Andrade also didn’t have an ag background, though she did grow up raising rabbits.
“I didn’t really have an awareness of what FFA was, but I’m very grateful that I’ve gained that awareness, thanks to our advisor, Mr. Cardoso,” said Andrade. “And though people see that we won first place, I’ve learned leadership and countless skills that I can apply to various areas of life. So, it definitely means a lot to me, even though I didn’t have prior knowledge of it.”
Gianotti-Delgado was a last-minute addition to the team and only had one day to get up to speed. But being on the
team opened her eyes to the importance of agriculture.
“At first, I didn’t think ag was a big deal,” said Gianotti-Delgado, who also does not have an ag background. “But now, seeing how much ag relates to our future, it 100 percent changes my perception of agriculture.”
Cardoso is one of six ag teachers at Turlock High, which has a robust FFA program. He guided the team to the state title on April 12 at Fresno State University, where they could judge a variety of trees.
“They judged them based on their character, their shape, the symmetry among the tree,” said Cardoso. “Then, they’ll go to a judge and tell them why they placed the tree where they placed it. They do that four times — peaches, apricots, nectarines, and then almonds. They judge all four, going to four different judges, making assessments and giving a rationale for their assessment.”
Turlock beat Righetti (Santa Maria) by one point to capture the winner’s trophy.
Over the last school year, Pitman High FFA students went into elementary school classrooms to teach the younger students things such as CPR, animal care and how to make butter. PHS students were also instrustumental in helping younger students learn about the TUSD farm. In May, the FFA members held a pet supply drive for the Stanislaus County Animal Service Agency. The members were able to collect over 600 items to help make the lives of the county shelter pets a little bit better.
BY RENEE EDWARDS
MERCED, CA – While the scent of funnel cake and the roar of carnival rides might define the Merced County Fair for many, a deeper narrative unfolds behind the flashing lights and booming music. Here, under the relentless Merced sun, the true spirit of agriculture thrives, embodied by the dedicated 4-H and FFA members and their unwavering families. For these young showmen, the fairgrounds aren’t just a temporary attraction; they are a week-long crucible of hard work, passion, and the profound bond between youth and their animals. The gentle bleating of livestock and the hum of anticipation filled the air as I observed the Heifer showings. Among the many promising young exhibitors, I had the privilege of speaking with Turlock’s own Kacie Taylor, a spirited Westside 4-H member. Her journey into the
world of agricultural showing began simply: “It looked fun and I wanted to try it.” But what kept her coming back? “I figured out it was easy and fun,” she explained with a disarming honesty, her joy ultimately rooted in “Showing my heifer, Lollipop.” This deep connection was evident in her strong performance, placing second in her class with her yearling Hereford heifer KD Lollipop, and further excelling with a second-place finish in Jr. Showmanship and sixth in Senior Showmanship. Kacie is already setting her sights on next year’s fair, eager to work with her MMCA replacement heifer. From the majestic heifers, my journey continued through the pens of sheep, pigs, lambs, and finally, the goats. Each animal represented countless hours of unseen labor – feeding, grooming, and training. Young handlers, some remarkably small beside their charges, moved with a seasoned grace, demonstrating
a quiet confidence cultivated through months of preparation. Parents stood as silent pillars of support, their expressions a blend of pride and palpable dedication. The unique symphony of hay, livestock, and the occasional whir of a fan underscored the profound commitment that permeated every corner of the barns. Ultimately, these young members and their families brave a week under the Merced sun not for fleeting fame or fortune, but for the inherent love of what they do. The unwavering dedication of 4-H and FFA members, coupled with the tireless support of their parents, serves as a powerful inspiration. The Merced County Fair, it becomes clear, is far more than just a destination for entertainment; it is a living classroom, a testament to enduring values, and a vibrant celebration of the heart and hustle instilled in its young agriculturalists.
I pledge my head to clearer thinking, My heart to greater loyalty, My hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.
BY CHRISTOPHER CORREA
The beginning of April marked the end of a unique, rewarding, year-long chapter for two local young adults.
The 97th annual State FFA Leadership Conference that took place at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento from April 3 to 6 marked the final weekend of responsibilities for Turlock Christian’s John Dein, Hilmar’s Gianna Gonzalez and the other four members of the 2024-25 State FFA Officer cabinet, who have been the faces of FFA in the California.
In an event that featured a slew of keynote speakers that included state treasurer Fiona Ma and Miss USA Alma Cooper, as well as a special guest appearance from the Tik Tok-famous “Costco Guys,” Big Justice and AJ, it was the state officers that captivated the crowds of roughly 7,000 the most, as they gave heartfelt retirement addresses and performed an honorary passing down of jackets to the incoming officers.
For the past year, Dein served as the State FFA vice president while Gonzalez was the State FFA secretary. During their tenure, they hosted dozens of leadership conferences for FFA members (including the Advanced Leadership Conference), visited dozens of high schools throughout the state for development workshops, and toured a variety of agriculture facilities and learned of the different industries in the state.
State FFA Officers are elected annually by delegates from each FFA chapter in California. Each candidate goes through an extensive application process, which includes speeches and interviews, including answering questions from a panel at last year’s state conference. According to California Agricultural Education, the
team’s purpose is to “inspire and lead their peers, shepherding the FFA component of the program.”
“What people don’t realize — including myself prior to the appointment — was that there is so much travel,” Dein said with a laugh. “We literally lived out of cars and hotels, and that quite honestly made us closer.
“When I say we became family, I really mean that.”
As vice president, Dein presented at a number of conferences, trained regional officers, built relationships with students and chapter leaders, and (perhaps his favorite part), presented awards to chapters and members.
Gonzalez also honed in on her public speaking and collaboration, while specific duties as secretary included managing the cabinet’s social media accounts and keeping official records, including those
of the awards handed out during their term.
Gonzalez, known by the officers as the “mom” of the group and “the glue that holds things in place,” reflected on growth as a leader during her speech at the Saturday session.
“My favorite part of my job as a state officer was meeting members from all over California and learning how they live in their own communities,” Gonzalez said. “Being able to travel across the entire state has taught me that every place is different, and everyone has something that is unique to their lives or communities.
“When you speak to members and they share little fun facts about their lives and their hometowns, you start to feel like you’ve been there before and it brings a comforting connection between you and the member. The members have made all the difference in my life this year and have taught me to be grateful for my community at home in Hilmar.”
Dein added that it was also somewhat emotional to hear the stories of FFA members, bond with them, then having to hit the road to their next destination.
“It was like a rollercoaster of emotions to be able to connect with students then have to say goodbye before you know it,” he said. “But that was many of the life lessons, and even though we may not see each for quite some time, or ever again, you take something from each of those people, whether it be lessons, different perspectives, all of that.”
A life lesson Gonzalez is taking away from the experience revolves around time management.
“This year taught me to be flexible when planning events or schedules,” she
said. “You truly never know what could happen in your day. For example, the number of students could change in your workshop, or you could hit traffic on the way to an event, or you could be asked to give a couple remarks at an event without preparation, but no matter what, if you think on your feet and stay calm during stressful moments, it’ll all be OK.”
She and Dein agreed that the experience taught them to step outside their bubbles, take risks in life and to never be afraid to try new things.
“This experience, and even before I took on this role, has taught me to take a chance on yourself, even when you doubt yourself or are about to take on something you’ve never done before,” Dein said. “A huge part of it is my faith in God that he has a plan.”
He also drew inspiration from former TC classmate Case DeJong, who ran for a state office position last year but fell just short.
“I saw Case apply for it and he didn’t get it, so there were times where I was doubting myself,” Dein said. “But he told me, ‘Don’t close the door that God is trying to open for you.’ I found that interesting. He said a lot of growth happened in that process. Even though he didn’t make it, he understood who he was.
“I was like, ‘Okay, I’ll give it a shot. I know I’m not going make it.’ But I ended up making it, and it was just one of those things, like, don’t sell yourself short like you. You are so worthy of approval. You’re worthy of being accepted for who you are. You are worthy of being supported by people. You are worthy of who you are meant to be. So now I have that mindset of trying anything that comes
my way because there’s no way to truly grow if you’re not pushing it.”
It’s a message he shared with students during the group’s tour across the state, and one that many students thanked him for in the days following the conferences and the State Leadership Conference earlier this month.
“That showed me that being yourself can have a crazy impact on someone,” Dein said. “Using this platform for good can really have a chain reaction.”
The duo, who like all the other officers,
had to delay their college education to be able to serve and represent the FFA at the state level.
Finally looking ahead to their posthigh school plans, Gonzalez and Dein each hope to study and have a career in Agriculture Business.
Neither shared plans of a specific college or career preference. Dein, in fact, joked that he “hasn’t had the time to even think about that stuff yet with how busy we’ve been.”
Gonzalez believes that the past year
has set the group up for success, regardless of where they go, what they pursue or where life ends up taking them.
“FFA prepares its members in leadership and career areas,” she said. “Public speaking, networking abilities, conflict management, and general knowledge of the agriculture industry are all skills I have developed and plan to use throughout my future career.”
On Sunday, attendees were welcomed with a special tribute to the state officers’ parents. Parents were invited onstage and surprised with heartfelt video messages from their children, shown in both English and Spanish. In a touching tribute, these dedicated supporters were also awarded Honorary State FFA Degrees.
“An incredible moment,” Dein said of the ceremony.
Both Dein and Gonzalez gave an abundance of thanks to their families, friends, teachers, advisors and fellow FFA members for their supports.
The other state officers from the past year were President Camille Zavala of Kingsburg FFA, Treasurer Melissa LuaDuarte of Santa Maria FFA, Reporter Carlos Nunez of Santa Maria FFA, and Sentinel Joshua Wolford of O’Neals Minarets FFA.
The 2025-2026 State FFA Officer team is made up of President Lily Vaughan of Oroville-Las Plumas FFA, Vice President Noah Stanisai of Temecula-Saint Jeanne Catholic FFA, Secretary Ryan Taylor of Kelseyville FFA, Treasurer Daren Deftereos of Hanford FFA, Reporter Tessa Camacho of O’Neals Minarets FFA, and Sentinel Sophia Camou of BakersfieldGarces Memorial FFA.
Some
Kherington Azevedo
Second place FFA novice showmanship
Scotlynn Sanchez
Fourth place FFA advanced showmanship
Reese Ahlem
Fifth place FFA novice showmanship
Loura Azevedo
Fifth place FFA intermediate showmanship
Scotlynn Sanchez
Reserve champion heavyweight market goat
Second place chapter group
Sheep:
Bree Perry
Reserve champion heavyweight market lamb
Third place chapter group
Swine:
Blake Nyman
Fourth place FFA intermediate showmanship
Fifth place chapter group
• Dump and Drain any Standing Water
• When outdoors, use EPA registered repellents like DEET, Picaridin or IR3535
• Make sure windows and doors have tight fitting screens