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- Released to the Madera Tribune

FFA National Convention delegation, from left, (top row) Cinda Mattrocce, Zach Pruitt, Vincent Urena, Michael Funcher, Alexander Wara, (bottom row) Heidi Richardson, Ali Batz, Kendra Willet, Mika Petrucci, Melissa Alley and Corey Padgett represent the future of agriculture for Madera. They will travel to Louisville, Ky. in October for national competition.

Photo by: For The Madera Tribune

In late October, 12 members of the Madera Chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) will make the journey of a lifetime as they travel to Louisville, Ky. to attend the National FFA Convention with the California FFA Delegation.

Students will participate in leadership workshops, attend FFA sessions led by the National FFA officer team, and be inspired by motivational speakers.

At the convention, Madera FFA's Best Informed Greenhand (BIG) team, comprised of five freshman members, will be competing against all other state champion BlG teams for the national title.

The Best Informed Greenhand team competed thr-oughout the fall and spring, and earned the title of California State Champion at the state finals held at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in May. These five members are eager to bring back the national title to Madera.

To conclude the trip, the students will travel to Washington, D.C., where they will represent California FFA. There will be approximately 300 students from California FFA chapters making this trip. The students will have the opportunity to tour the National Monuments, Capitol Building, Mt. Vernon, The Smithsonian Institutes, and will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The price of this memorable learning experience is $1,298 per student. The group is currently fundraising in order to help cover the cost of this trip. They have sold Tupperware and have scheduled a pasta dinner for July 29 at the Old School House on Howard Road. They are also selling Papa Murphy's Pizza Cards and Buggy Shower Car Wash tickets.

Monetary donations would be greatly appreciated. Pl-ease make payments to Madera FFA and remit to, Sheryl Sisil, 801 North Granada Drive #28C, Madera, CA 93637. For more information call Sheryl Sisil at 283-4355.