Melissa Rubio
The acronym FFA symbolizes the passion of millions of students across the country. It stands for Future Farmers of America; however, FFA is often mistakenly perceived as merely cows, plows, and sows. It transports students beyond ‘just’ agricultural education, as FFA is built around the three-circle model: classroom, SAE, and FFA. The enriching pathways offered at Dinuba High School include Agriscience, Animal Science, Floriculture, and Ornamental Horticulture. This upcoming school year brings the exciting return of the Ag Mechanics pathway. In these distinct classes, students explore various branches of agriculture in the Central Valley and their global impacts.
SAE stands for Supervised Agricultural Experience. SAEs are a vital aspect of the three-circle model, allowing students to develop technical skills through hands-on experience. These projects are classified into five categories: Exploratory, Entrepreneurship, Placement, Research and Experimental, and School-Based Enterprise. During my freshman year, I raised a Berkshire hog named Butterz; in my sophomore year, I raised an Angus steer named Denali, and currently, I am caring for a Charolais steer named Woody. While my projects have focused on entrepreneurship, students across DHS participate in a diverse range of projects, which are showcased at the Dinuba FFA SAE Exhibition in April.
Finally, FFA embodies the family-oriented nature of the organization. Through FFA, students can connect with peers from across the country. Students can also compete in Leadership Development Events, Career Development Events, and conferences. At Dinuba FFA, students can participate in various contests, including Job Interviews, Creed, Open and Closing, Spanish Creed, Impromptu, Extemporaneous, and Prepared Speaking. These experiences encourage students to step out of their comfort zones and help them build their public speaking and leadership skills. The CDEs offered at DHS include Veterinary Science, Floral Design, Nursery Landscape, and Marketing Plan. The purpose of these contests aligns with the FFA mission statement: “FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.” Throughout my FFA career, I have competed in the Best Informed Greenhand, Nursery Landscape, Marketing Plan, Impromptu LDE, and Spanish Creed LDE competitions.
As members cultivate their premier leadership skills, they can be elected as servant leaders at the Chapter, Section, Region, State, and National levels. These avenues truly enable individuals to realize their full potential. Above all, FFA provides a supportive environment where people from all backgrounds come together to grow in various aspects of their lives.
Happenings of Dinuba FFA
On Tuesday, March 11, 2025, five exceptional members were awarded their State Degrees. The requirements for obtaining the State Degree are as follows: recipients must possess their Chapter Degrees, complete two years of agricultural education, and demonstrate leadership, SAE growth, and community involvement. Specifically, students must have earned and productively invested at least $1,000 and spent a minimum of 300 hours on their SAEs. To demonstrate leadership, members must fulfill one of the following criteria: perform 10 procedures of parliamentary law, recite a six-minute speech on a topic related to agriculture or FFA, or serve as an officer or committee chairperson. Additionally, students must maintain a satisfactory academic record and contribute at least 30 hours of community service. They must participate in at least five activities beyond the chapter level and in their chapter’s program of activities. Dinuba FFA’s proud recipients were Emmalee Kenney, Ava Bledsoe, Erin Hall, Melissa Rubio, and Vanessa Figueroa.
Thursday the 13th marked the annual Greenhand Degree Ceremony. Ninety-two members earned their Greenhand Degrees and will continue to pursue the next honor the FFA organization can bestow upon them, the Chapter Degree. Within the FFA, there are always greater opportunities to strive for excellence. Moreover, Elizabeth Quintero-Rubio attended the Bakersfield Kern Ag Pavilion for State Officer Training, making history as she is the first person from Dinuba to proceed as a State Officer Candidate. While various students enjoyed the wonders of the 97th California FFA State Leadership Convention, Elizabeth underwent numerous interviews in the basement of the Golden 1 Arena. She made Dinuba FFA proud after being slated to serve as the 2025-2026 CA FFA State Reporter. On the final day of the leadership convention, she addressed over 7,000 members. Although she didn’t secure the position, she effectively left her mark on Dinuba FFA. She paved the way for future members to follow, demonstrating that regardless of one’s background, we all can harness the seeds of leadership within us.
The San Joaquin Regional Speaking Contest took place on March 14. Ava Bledsoe competed in Extemporaneous Speaking while Hugo Mendez, Elizabeth Quintero-Rubio, and Jackie Vasquez participated in Spanish Creed. Jackie placed 4th overall and earned a spot representing the San Joaquin Region at the state competition.
The very next day, Saturday, March 15, the Dinuba FFA CDE teams attended the Modesto Junior College Field Day. Marketing Plan competitors Elizabeth Quintero-Rubio, Jackie Vasquez, and Melissa Rubio claimed first place in their contest. Nursery Landscape competitors Ava Bledsoe, Erin Hall, Mireya Pena, and Mariana Bergmann-Dela Cruz also achieved first place. Chloe Verdin, Aileen Salgado, Micky Astorga, and Yobanie Arceo placed eighth in the Floriculture Contest. In contrast, Emmalee Kenney, Chloe Ramirez, Michael Del Rio, and Judy Perez placed thirteenth in Veterinary Science.
March was undeniably packed with action for Dinuba FFA, but the excitement doesn’t end there. In April, the team organized the Kennedy Elementary School Petting Zoo. It will continue to attend various Field Days in preparation for the State Finals hosted by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in May. While it may seem overwhelming to navigate all the experiences FFA offers, there’s no need to feel intimidated; embrace the opportunity to explore campus experiences and get involved. FFA is welcoming to everyone and encompasses extensive branches, allowing each individual to discover which pathway suits them best. It’s never too late to engage with the FFA, so start now!