Pictured left to right: Kendall Green, Patterson FFA advisor, Daniela Valenzuela, Jasmine Collins and FFA COO Joshua Bledsoe.
INDIANAPOLIS – As members know, FFA is a national organization that reaches from the state of Alaska to the U.S. Virgin Islands and from the states of Maine to Hawaii. Members and chapters are involved in countless aspects of agriculture. Held within the National FFA Expo at convention every year, the Hall of States showcases some of the diversity that FFA and American agriculture have to offer.
This year’s challenge to participating states was to highlight their state’s agricultural commodities. Twenty-three states exhibited, and California was named this year’s winner.
The Patterson FFA Chapter designed California’s booth after being named the winner of their state’s chapter booth contest, held earlier this year.
Jasmine Collins, Daniela Valenzuela, Samantha Wisbar and Xandra Carter were the four lucky members who brought the booth to convention.
“We wanted to explain [agriculture] in our state. We are number one for agriculture in the U.S.,” said Wisbar.
The California booth featured the state’s top 20 agricultural commodities, displaying samples of the actual products, along with a map of where these products are produced throughout the state. The chapter also designed an interactive quiz for visitors to test their knowledge of California’s agriculture.
“It’s truly an honor to be named the winner,” exclaimed Valenzuela. “It’s our first time at convention; we did this for the experience. It’s been really fun meeting new people.”
The Patterson FFA Chapter is led by advisor Kendall Green. They would also like to thank Blue Diamond Almonds and the California FFA Association for their support, along with all of the members of their chapter who helped design and construct the booth.
Abby Marion is a senior at the University of Florida studying agricultural education and communications. An alumnus of the Florida FFA Association, Marion is serving as a reporter for the 90th National FFA Convention & Expo Newsroom Crew.
