Atwater FFA
Early Summer
2015 Edition
Growing Success
Submitted by Madison Hall, Chapter Reporter
The Atwater High School Agriculture program was the
first high school horticulture program to be certified by the
California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers
(CANGC). The Atwater FFA Floriculture and Horticulture
teams and classes have continued to expand each year
with FFA members getting directly involved in various
school landscape projects. Students have participated
in the selection and ordering of annual and perennial
plant plugs and transplanting. Over 10,000 plant plugs
were transplanted during the 2014-2015 school year
with the plants being sold during the fall and spring plant
sales as well as donated to the high school as part of newly created beautification projects. The “hands-on” approach and enthusiasm
towards horticulture has resulted in increased campus pride with the student efforts in creating beautiful flowering landscape gardens all
over campus. For more information, log onto www.AtwaterFFA.org
Fortuna FFA
ChapterScoops
Chapter Sweetheart
12
California FFANEWS • Early Summer 2015
Submitted by Mary Beth Dale
Fortuna FFA had quite the chapter meeting! In April we elected each
of our new officers, and for the first time, our Chapter Sweetheart! The
Chapter Sweetheart competition is cut throat and contestants have
trained all year long for the chance to wear that white, corduroy jacket.
Contestants competed in three different areas; barn-wear, questions and
talent. For barn-wear, contestants wowed our members with their most
fashionable barn attire. Then, they had to answer one question on stage
about their ideal date. Finally, contestants challenged each other in the
talent portion where they had one minute to show us exactly what they
were made of. Talents consisted of line dancing, harmonica playing, and
even milk tasting. We can honestly say the talent portion was unique.
After much deliberation and tallying of the votes, our judges came to a
decision and decided our reigning Chapter Sweetheart for 2015-2016,
Mr.Cody Emmons.
Galt FFA
Warrior Grown
Submitted by Brieana DeMelo, Chapter Reporter
After recently having been awarded the Toyota Diversity
Grant, the Galt FFA chapter has had the unique
opportunity to start a cage-free poultry co-op on our
school’s campus. The unit is student run, with employees
earning money while developing their SAE project.
These students are responsible for ensuring that the 50
laying hens are healthy, properly fed & watered, and that
the housing system is optimally maintained. In order to
keep the chickens fed at a cost-friendly price and reduce
food waste, the Agriculture Department at Galt High has
been working with the school cafeteria to gather leftover
produce from lunches to feed the chickens. Students
are also responsible for collecting and marketing the
Warrior Grown eggs through the innovative Community
Supported Agriculture system, teaching students about
alternative production strategies. Finally, eggs are also
donated to a local food bank though the chapter’s
participation in the Ag It Forward program.