Several members of the Riverbank High School FFA attended the 90th Annual State FFA Leadership Conference in Anaheim, California a few weeks ago. The conference was hosted in Anaheim this year for the first time.

“For the last 10-plus years it has been in Fresno but due to the increasing number of students joining FFA we outgrew Fresno and took it down to Anaheim,” explained RHS FFA Advisor Dustin Parson. “This dynamic conference consists of workshops, sessions, and a career fair broadening each student’s leadership skills and personable skills as well as meeting future colleges and trade schools that they could attend post-high school.”

Students Nathan Rummerfield, Marissa Garza, Juan Vigil, Angel Garcia, Austin Schurer, Zac Richison, and Junior Jiminez from Riverbank High School participated in the conference.

The students engage with other chapters throughout California and in attendance at the conference this year were over 7,300 FFA members. The students participated in the vote for the 2018-19 California State FFA Officers.

“We also attended Disneyland with a two day park hopper pass and on the last day of the conference California Adventures closed down for all of California FFA to attend a special event,” added Parson. “We’ve had loads of fun and have learned so much about agriculture and leadership; the students cannot wait to bring back all they have learned to the chapter.”

According to Parson, the graduation rate for FFA students is at 98 percent nationwide. He stated that over half of those students will further their education after school attending college or a trade school.

“Riverbank FFA is on the rise with our chapter and we cannot wait to get more students involved with what we have to offer,” said Parson.