Morgan Darrow checks out the orchard.
In early August 2024, the Tioga FFA officer team had the opportunity to take a two-day officer retreat to Santa Cruz, Cali., where they learned valuable skills and how to work together as a team. Along the way, they took a few detours that taught them the importance of friends, family and farming.
Tioga FFA Advisor Steven Baptista took it upon himself to show these young leaders what agriculture means to him. Baptista and his family welcomed the officers onto their almond orchards and taught them what it’s like to be a farmer today. This team even had the privilege of watching a few tree shakers and sweepers in action.
“Being able to eat an almond right off the tree was definitely a cool experience,” says Tioga FFA Vice President Erin McNair. “They were the best almonds I’ve ever tasted!”
An almond tree in the Baptista family orchard.
After a long day of farm tours, the team continued their journey to the sands of Santa Cruz. During the drive, they stopped to see the scenic agriculture of the bay. Upon arriving at their hotel, they quickly headed to the beach, where they created a memory that would last forever.
“I believe we grew closer as a team because we were all able to connect and grow together,” says Tioga FFA Secretary Morgan Darrow.
After the beach, the team quickly headed to a nice restaurant on the pier to begin planning the year. While officer retreats are full of fun activities, this trip is also where the hard work of being an officer sets in. Retreats are essential to being an officer, as these trips set the pace for the year and determine how the team will work together.
Tioga FFA officers on their retreat.
Almost everyone was awake well into the night, making it hard to get out of bed the next morning, but everyone was eager to continue their trip to the boardwalk. From riding the Big Dipper over and over again to eating as much as they could stomach, everyone had a blast.
“I thought the trip was very fun, educational and beneficial in a lot of ways,” says Tioga FFA Sentinel Shayna Carrillo. “It helped me grow as a member of FFA and as a person in general.”
The team’s time at the boardwalk came to an end, and then they started their journey home. Fortunately, no one was necessarily sad about it because the memories they made during the trip were still fresh in their minds.
