Upper Lake FFA is part of the Upper Lake
Unified School District and serves students from
the communities of Spring Valley, Clearlake
Oaks, Glen Haven, Lucerne, Nice, Upper
Lake, Witter Springs and Blue Lakes. Some
students travel over 45 minutes to get to school
every day. The high school is located along the
north shore of Clear Lake in the North Coast
FFA Region. Clear Lake is the largest freshwater
lake in California and it is considered to be
the oldest lake in North America, dating back
480,000 years! The ecology of the lake and
the surrounding county is also unique. Known
as the “Bass Capital of the West,” Clear Lake
entices fisherman and wildlife enthusiasts from
Charter in the 1956-57 school year, Upper
Lake FFA was reinstated in 2005-06 and has
been growing strong ever since! Our other
FFA Advisor, Chris Decker, joined our program
in 2015 after earning his Career Technical
Education Credential, based on his construction
all over the nation. The surrounding mountains
and welding experience. He has done a great
and rolling hills are great for timber and cattle
job revitalizing the Ag Mechanics pathway and
production and the volcanic soils are ideal
has brought in Ag Metals and Ag Construction
for wine grape production.
courses. We also have a
The fertile valleys are
wood shop and a 1.5 acre
excellent for pear and
school farm with a hog
Make it Happen,
walnut orchards, as well
barn, goat and sheep pens,
Make it Matter!
as nursery products. This
a steer barn, and a garden
is where our FFA Advisor,
area. Students utilize these
Erica Boomer, grew up and
facilities for SAE projects
went to high school. She was never in FFA (but
and lab activities. Every part of the school farm
was a member of 4-H for over 12 years) so it
was built by our members. Our school has
was her goal to become an Ag Teacher and
close to 300 students total and half of them are
bring FFA back to Upper Lake High School;
{ Continued on page 5 }
and that’s what she did! After losing their FFA
California FFANEWS • PAGE 4 • Winter 2018