Gustine FFA attends the 93rd National FFA Convention, Club makes trip to DC

What an amazing nine days Gustine FFA had in Indianapolis, Indiana and Washington DC. Gustine FFA had 16 current members and three Gustine FFA alumni attend the 93rd National FFA Convention and Expo in Indianapolis. Students that were awarded the trip participated in many Gustine FFA events as well as events and competitions at the sectional, regional, and state levels during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 school years. The students that attended included Daniel Gomes, Christina Moitozo, Kaitlin Dores, Grant Hazan, Garret Gomes, Emma Woods, Austin Bell, Blake Codorniz, Mikayla Silveira, Lalanie Brace, Jacob Salsa, Savanna Barcellos, Tyler Borba, Ashlyn Alamo, Janai Navarro, Kailyn Medeiros, Darian Nunes, Joseph Lopes and John Toste.

Students arrived in Indianapolis on Oct. 26. On Oct. 27, students woke up early and boarded onto a bus on its way to Louisville, Kentucky. We had the opportunity to tour and watch bats being made at the Louisville Slugger Bat Factory. We then drove over to the Churchill Downs horse race track, where we were able to watch a 3D video about racing horses, and tour the famous horse racing track. After a busy day of touring around Louisville, Kentucky we made our way back to the hotel and got ready for the Brett Young concert we were attending later that night. Students took advantage of the opportunity to meet new people and rock out to some of their favorite songs from Young.

"I really enjoyed going to the National Convention. It gave me the opportunity to meet new people and go to workshops where I learned tools on how to be a better leader, which I am able to bring back to my chapter," commented Kaitlin Dores.

The convention was kicked off for Gustine FFA students on Oct. 28. The first session of the 93rd National FFA Convention and Expo was definitely one for the books. The excitement as thousands of FFA students filled the Lucas Oil Stadium was amazing. Through the remainder of the week, Gustine FFA students attended leadership workshops, heard from a variety of keynote speakers, attended the college and career show, shopped at the FFA Mall and listened to the retiring addresses from the outgoing National FFA Officers.

Students attended the American Degree Ceremony hosted by the National Officers on Oct. 30. John Toste was recognized on the National FFA stage and awarded his American Degree. The FFA American Farmer Degree is the highest degree an FFA member can receive in the FFA Organization. The American Farmer FFA Degree symbolizes the recipient's dedication to his or her chapter and the organization. This year Gustine FFA has four well deserving recipients, Camille Alamo, Gianna Azevedo, Darren Borba, and John Toste. Congratulations on such a big accomplishment and thank you for continuing to make Gustine FFA proud!

Later that day members attended the final session, where they were able to listen to the retiring address from the National FFA President, and meet the 2021-2022 National FFA officer team. After the convention was formally adjourned, Gustine FFA headed over to the airport where six students headed back home while 11 students headed to Washington DC, where they would be able to spend four days at in the nation's Capital.

Members toured and visited the Spy Museum, the Holocaust Museum, the Air Force Memorial, and Mount Vernon. Due to it being Halloween, later that day students took part in a ghost tour in downtown Alexandria, Virginia.

The next morning, students headed over to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania where students had the opportunity to learn more about the Civil War and the weapons and strategies used. We also were able to take part in different simulations, allowing us to experience and learn more about our American history. Later that day members took a night tour around the White House and its surrounding area.

On the last full day in DC we headed over to the capital and met with Congressman Jim Costa in the morning. Gustine FFA members asked questions on a variety of agriculture topics. We then visited the Washington Monument and got the opportunity to tour the top of the tower. After lunch, students toured the National Archives and headed over to Arlington National Cemetery.

This year students from the Gustine FFA Chapter were able to participate in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington. Christina Moitozo, Mikayla Silveira, Daniel Gomes, and Garret Gomes were the students chosen to represent Gustine FFA in actually laying the wreath donated by Gustine FFA. It was the honor and experience of a lifetime and an amazing event that all attending Gustine FFA students took part in.

Christina Moitozo shared her experience, "Participating in a once in a lifetime experience at the Arlington National Cemetery is an experience I will never forget. Laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was a touching moment in my life. I feel honored and proud to be an American and to be able to show respect to the men and women who paid the ultimate price for the freedoms we enjoy today. Learning that there are thousands of unidentified soldiers who are honored through this tradition, truly humbled all who witnessed and took part in the ceremony."

To end our trip, students toured and visited a variety of monuments on the National Mall. The monuments included the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Martin Luther King Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Albert Einstein Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial. Touring the monuments and memorials helped us all to learn more about the people and events that have helped shape our great nation.

The nine days spent at the FFA National Convention and in Washington DC were absolutely incredible! We would like to thank the National FFA Organization for hosting such an amazing convention, the Gustine Unified School District for allowing us to attend, Gustine FFA advisors for planning a great trip, and our Gustine Ag Boosters for helping to pay for students to have this opportunity.