By Madison Kroeker
Golden Valley FFA Reporter
The past several months has been exceptionally successful for the Golden Valley FFA program with multiple state championships to celebrate.
In April, our program had a very busy, yet rewarding month. Our Ag Sales team capped off their undefeated year by winning the State Championship at Cosumnes River College. Josh Heupel was named the High Individual Overall, Alyssa Humphreys was 2nd Overall, Alison Bylsma was 3rd Overall, and Shelby Stillman was 8th Overall respectively. This was the second year for these 4 students in competing in the Ag Sales contest and their goal all along was to win a State Championship.
Two weeks later, our Farm Power Team captured another State Championship at Fresno State, the 2nd in 3 years coach Scott Heupel earned. Peter Bliss was named High Individual Overall, Teddy Ragsdale was 4th Overall, and Cameron Ivy was 15th Overall. This was the first year all 3 students had competed in the Farm Power contest, but their hard work and dedication to being successful was shown with their overall success
At the end of April, Golden Valley FFA had 32 students attend the California State FFA Leadership Conference in Anaheim, in which many of the students were State Finalists for various awards. Golden Valley FFA was well represented on the stage throughout the week for their successes. Josh Heupel was named the State Champion in the Job Interview Competition, an event in which the student applies and interviews for a mock job. Josh went through multiple interviews and rounds to capture the State Title. During the same time, Alyssa Humphreys was competing in the Extemporaneous Public Speaking Contest. Extemporaneous Public speaking is an extremely difficult contest in which the contestants select a random topic and have 30 minutes to prepare a 4-6 minute speech. Following their speech, students are asked questions from the judges. Alyssa Humphreys was named the Reserve State Champion in this speaking competition.
Additionally during the week, Josh Heupel interviewed for the State Star Farmer Award. The State Star Farmer Award is the top award an FFA member can receive in the State of California. The Star Farmer award highlights the top FFA project overall in which there is an application, as well as an interview with the State FFA Officers. Through all of the application and interviews, Josh Heupel was named the State Champion Star Farmer Overall. This award comes with a $10,000 scholarship and multiple awards. Heupel’s FFA projects include building and fabricating Agricultural Mechanics projects for Heupel Bros. Farms. Additionally, he farms 80 acres of Chandler Walnuts in the Le Grand area.
Continuing on with the successful week in Anaheim, Golden Valley FFA had the most State Finalists in Proficiency areas in the State of California. Irelyn Bese was named one of the Top 3 Agricultural Sales Placement SAE Projects, Elise Guerra was a State Finalist in Equine Production, Alison Bylsma was a State Finalist in Vegetable Production, and Josh Heupel was a State Finalist in Fruit Production, as well as the State Champion Winner in Agricultural Mechanics Fabrication. Heupels application will now be scored at the National level which if he is a National Finalist, will interview in Indianapolis, Indiana in October.
To round out our historic year, our Livestock Judging Team earned the Reserve State Champion honors at their State Finals at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Nathaniel Drennen was 3rd High Individual Overall, Katherine Horal was 8th Overall, Irelyn Bese was 10th Overall, and Kilee Gillard was 30th Overall.
For the first time in many years, Golden Valley FFA will be sending two teams to the National FFA Judging Finals in Indianapolis, Indiana in October. Both our Agricultural Sales and Livestock Judging Teams will be competing and we are exceptionally excited and proud of both teams. Currently, both teams are soliciting donations to help fund their trip back East.
If you may possibly be interested in helping sponsor these teams, please contact Mr. Jacobsen at [email protected] or Mrs. Mendonza at [email protected].
Our year was a record breaking one and we look forward to continuing the success of Golden Valley High School by making the County of Merced proud. If you would like to stay up to date on various activities our program is involved with, please visit our Facebook or Instagram pages.