A Farewell from...
Your 2013-14
California State FFA Officers
Riley
2013-2014 California State FFA
President
Valerie
2013-2014 California State FFA
Vice President
2
I couldn’t think of a better line to describe this year than the chorus from the theme song of The Lego Movie. “Everything
is awesome, everything is cool when you’re a part of a team,” perfectly depicts this past year, my team, the people I’ve
met, and it has been a great theme song to many of the adventures I’ve shared with each of you. The pure awesomeness
of each encounter I’ve had over the course of this year is indescribable. I am so honored to have had the opportunity
to serve, but more importantly, for everyone reading this right now letting me share this year with YOU. From spending
nights with your families on chapter visits, getting cray cray at ALA’s, to watching some of your most proud moments as
leaders unfold, I feel so incredibly lucky to have been a part of your journey to reveal your own roads. When I think
back on all the adventures we’ve shared I can’t help but smile from ear to ear. Welding a hat rack with the Taft FFA
boys, going to Ocean World with the Del Norte officers, chowing down at dinner with the Central team (and Landizzle)
following your state degree ceremonies, or even making whale noises on the bus in DC with the most rad delegates
and members are each just a few of the many memories that I cherish dearly! Each of you having been such meaningful
pieces in my life and I cannot thank you enough for strengthening my foundation. What a privilege it has been to watch
each of you in action as you have been positive leaders, dynamic teams, and an overall family within your chapters,
sections, and regions. Thank you for this opportunity and thank you for being the center of what I have built my tower
around. Simply put, you are all awesome (more awesome than an awesome possum).
Love,
Riley Nilsen
I extend a sincere thank you to all of my family, friends, and the members I have met throughout this year. Thank you for
sharing your homes, food, and for creating countless memories that have filled one of the happiest and most fulfilling
years of my life. Just a few short years ago I sat in an ag class and did not see the value of being involved in agriculture
education or being a leader in the FFA because I simply was not “that kid”. I wasn’t involved in agriculture, I hated public
speaking with a passion, and I really wasn’t looking forward to the whole nylon part of the gig, so what on earth could
I offer this program? Thankfully, my advisor sat me down and convinced me to run chapter office and to attend as many
activities and conferences that I could. I soon realized that my background did not matter because there was a place for
me and many others in the ag department. Skills such as public speaking would develop as I made the choice to partake
in the vast opportunities offered by this program, and there’s not really a way to go around the whole nylons things,
but they aren’t that bad after all. In the FFA, our potential is limitless. Now, we are faced with the question of how will I
engage in my limitless potential? Will it be simply going to a chapter meeting and volunteering for one of the activities,
possibly joining a judging team? Maybe it’s taking the initiative to get better grades in school so you can apply for one
of the over 30 scholarships FFA offers. The moment you make that decision and follow through with it, you are leaving
a legacy for yourself and inspiring many others to be limitless. Keep rockin’ on California FFA!
Much Love,
Valerie Cañas
California FFANEWS • Early Summer 2014