FFA members at Rio Linda High School pose for a group photo during a monthly meeting in the cafeteria on Nov. 17. Photo by Seth Henderson

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - With 280 registered members, Rio Linda High School’s Future Farmers of America (FFA) program is led by its six officers and two advisors, preparing students to become professionals in whatever industry they choose to navigate. 

Program advisor and agriculture mechanics teacher, Emily Rhea, said students follow a new theme each month, with November representing thankfulness. At the program’s monthly meeting in the cafeteria on Nov. 17, students wrote letters to veterans and expressed what they’re thankful for. 

The program hosted a Tri-Tip dinner fundraiser on Nov. 19 to raise money for the various field trips, gear, tools, supplies and other needs, Rhea said. More than 160 tri-tips were sold, making up more than 100 meals.

Students in Rio Linda High School’s FFA program pose for a photo during a monthly meeting in the cafeteria on Nov. 17. Photo by Seth Henderson

“We're very thankful for the community and staff and everyone around us supporting us,” Rhea said. “It was a really big deal. The students went out there and fundraised, they did an amazing job for the short turnaround time that we had.”

The program’s officers said that different pins and accolades can be acquired throughout a student’s tenure in FFA, featuring titles such as Stars, Degrees, Recognition, Proficiency and job title. Each officer sported their pins on their official program attire, featuring a business formal type of dress code. 

“That's what's so great about FFA, just as a whole. It's not just about agriculture,” program officer Kathryn Carson said. “We have a bunch of different speaking competitions, in ways, even if you don't want to go into agriculture, we prepare you just for life, which I think is a really important basis.”

FFA officers lead students in a pie-eating contest during the program’s monthly meeting in the cafeteria on Nov. 17. Photo by Seth Henderson

The FFA officers shared their desired career industry after high school, sharing fields such as biochemistry, clinical psychology, veterinary medicine, marine biology, plant science and marketing. The officers said they have become a big family, coming from various backgrounds and growing closer with each other through the years.

“I think we work really well together as a team, so when it goes to planning events, we all are already on the same wavelength,” Carson said, “and then it comes really easily to us when we're planning everything and making sure everything's set.

Many of the officers are also leaders of other committees on campus, making the need for coordination and regular communication a priority. Members of the program have traveled to both in-state and out-of-state competitions, conferences and other field trips, learning about vital agricultural practices used in specific regions. 

Rio Linda High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) program officers from left to right are, Kennedy Edmon, Leah Crowe, Vice President Ava Smith, President Kailyn Robson, Kathryn Carson and Gabriella Rodriguez at a monthly meeting on Nov. 17 in the cafeteria. Photo by Seth Henderson

President Kailyn Robson said she had not significantly been out of California before her trip to Indiana for a large conference, saying “It was so nice to hear from people outside of California and their Ag perspective. The climate’s different, the environment’s different and the social aspect over there is so different.”

The officers said the various workshops fostered friendships across the country, participating in multiple activities in the communities the program travels to. Coming from a small town, in Rio Linda, the program pushes members to think beyond what they’re capable of, they said. 

In addition to the standard meeting agenda, students competed in a pie eating contest, fishing for gummy worms on a paper plate filled with whipped cream. A sea of phone cameras faced the pie-eating participants as they dove in headfirst with their hands behind their back. 

Rhea said that the program is student-led, meaning that the six female officers sat down for three days to intensely plan out the events for the year, delegating tasks and setting goals. 

A student in Rio Linda High School’s FFA program poses for a photo after winning a pie-eating contest during the program’s monthly meeting in the cafeteria on Nov. 17. Photo by Seth Henderson

“This program is not a one person show,” Rhea said. “It definitely has a lot to do with the officers, the alumni, the advisory board, the admin. Literally everyone on campus. The community – everyone's involved in the chopper somewhere or how.”

Program officers emceed the meeting, delegating members to their designated activities and students enjoyed a time of fellowship towards the end of the meeting, with pies from Apple Hill. 

Officer Kennedy Edmon, said that the monthly meetings are not mandatory, but that the students can receive Activity Points, which will later be tallied at the end of the year for the opportunity to win various prizes. Edmon said that students who earn the most Activity Points have a chance to win a trip to a destination over summer break, such as the Roseville Golfland Sunsplash. Other prizes range in tiers, earning students various merchandise, such as key chains, water bottles and drawstring bags.  

Advisors for Rio Linda High School’s FFA program pose for a photo at the Nov. 17 monthly meeting in the cafeteria. Photo by Seth Henderson

Several students recently attended a field trip to the Sills Family Farm, also known as Pleasant Grove Farms on Nov. 14, one of the many events funded by the program's various fundraisers and an alumni meeting took place on Nov. 18. 

To learn more about the Rio Linda FFA program, visit its website at sites.google.com/view/riolindaffa/home?authuser=0. Follow the program’s Instagram page for updates about meetings, events, fundraisers and more at https://www.instagram.com/riolinda.ffa/.

Rio Linda High School is within the Twin Rivers Unified School District and is at 6309 Dry Creek Road in Rio Linda. To learn more about RLHS, visit https://rlhs.trusd.net/ and to learn more about Twin Rivers, visit https://www.trusd.net/.  

FFA officers lead students in a pie-eating contest during the program’s monthly meeting in the cafeteria on Nov. 17. Photo by Seth Henderson