GALT, CA (MPG) - Members of Galt FFA chapter recently attended the 98th California FFA State Leadership Convention in Ontario from March 21 to 24, joining thousands of students from across the state for a week of leadership development, competition and recognition.

Throughout the convention, Galt FFA members participated in keynote sessions, workshops and official business meetings, while also competing in a wide range of career and leadership events. Their efforts resulted in an impressive list of accomplishments, highlighting both individual excellence and the strength of the chapter as a whole.

Several Galt FFA members were recognized as state scholarship winners.

Avery Sperling received the Jaimie Lynn Pettey Memorial Scholarship and plans to attend Reedley College to major in Animal Science. After college, Avery plans to focus her time on livestock breeding and genetics. Gauge Goehring was awarded the Betty Bushong Memorial Scholarship and plans to attend Modesto Junior College to major in Animal Science with the goal of becoming an Agricultural Education Teacher after graduation.

 

Jaimie Lynn Pettey Memorial Scholarship recipient Avery Sperling is pictured with her recognition plaque at the 98th California FFA State Leadership Convention. Photos courtesy of Galt FFA

Bella Matos earned the Zenith Insurance Scholarship and plans to attend Cal Poly SLO to major in Agricultural Communications. After college, she plans to work in Agricultural Marketing. Katie Looper was named the Almond Board of California Scholarship recipient and will be attending Oklahoma State University to major in Agriculture Business. After college, she hopes to pursue a career in agricultural law and policy.

Galt students also found success in proficiency award areas, which recognize outstanding Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects.

Graduate Logan Rose was named the state winner in Fruit and Nut Production Placement. Logan’s SAE includes working for Atlas Vineyard Management in Lodi. Logan is responsible for cane cutting, irrigation repair, site preparation, pre-harvesting scheduling and working harvest. Logan has also learned how to operate a tractor and a forklift.

Gauge earned top honors in Swine Entrepreneurship. For the past four years, Gauge has operated Double G Show Pigs. He is responsible for all aspects of daily management, breeding, farrowing and marketing of his pigs to the 4-H club and FFA members. Gauge enjoys sharing his experience and passion for the swine industry with others.

Elliott Kramer was recognized as the Environmental and Natural Resources Placement state winner. For the past three years, Elliott has worked for Kramer Reclamation & Mining, performing reclamation of land for wildlife habitat restoration as well as mineral extraction in a 30-acre placer gold mine in Etna.

Katie also earned a state title in Diversified Agriculture Production Entrepreneurship. Katie’s projects include breeding beef cattle, raising and showing sheep, raising 100 to 200 market broilers annually, growing field pumpkins and working for a local producer. She began with a roadside pumpkin stand that has expanded to be over 1.5 acres and more than 50 varieties, managing production, harvest and marketing. She oversees the health, nutrition and sales across her three livestock enterprises. Finally, she works for Mitchell Family Farms, assisting with irrigation installation in walnut orchards, pumpkin field maintenance and animal care.

As state winners, all four students will represent California in their respective area at the national level.

In addition to his proficiency win, Gauge was named the State Star Small Farmer, one of the highest honors awarded at the state level. After showing market hogs for several years, Gauge decided to start his own swine breeding project by keeping a gilt and got a part-time job with a swine breeder where he was able to learn swine breeding and management.

Today Gauge’s SAE includes three breeding sows that he farrows out, selling piglets to 4-H and FFA members. Gauge takes pride in not only producing quality show pigs but sharing his experience with others from nutritional consultation and showmanship to disease prevention and treatment.

From left are Katie Looper and Elliott Kramer holding their State Proficiency winner plaques earned at the 98th California FFA State Leadership Convention. Looper was recognized in Diversified Agriculture Production Entrepreneurship and Kramer in Environmental and Natural Resources Placement.

In the agriscience competition, Elliott and Garrett Rose were named state winners in the Food Systems Division 6 category. Elliott and Garrett’s project consisted of testing various methods of preventing freshly harvested Malbec wine grape juice to find the most cost and technically effective method. 

Lillie Jackson and Rylan Graviette also earned recognition, placing second in the Plant Systems Division 6 category. Lillie and Rylan’s project consisted of testing the effectiveness of plant-based compost vs. manure-based compost on plant growth.

Leadership representation was another area of success for Galt FFA. Bella, Gauge and Avery were selected to serve as State Ambassadors. Katie advanced to the final 16 candidates out of more than 70 applications for California State FFA Officer, an elite group selected through a rigorous interview and evaluation process.

Madison McDonald was selected as a State Subcommittee Chair, focusing on the role of artificial intelligence in Career and Leadership Development Events. Rylan and Adrian Valdovinos served as official chapter delegates and served on the CA Ag License Plate and State Conference Experience committees.

Galt FFA members also contributed to the convention’s entertainment, with Elliott and Courtney Brouwer returning to the stage to perform as past State Talent winners.

The success of Galt FFA at this year’s convention reflects the dedication, hard work and leadership of its members.

As the chapter continues to build on its legacy, these accomplishments serve as a testament to the impact of agricultural education and the opportunities it provides for students to grow and excel.