PITMAN HIGH FFA
Special to the Journal
The first semester of the 2025-26 school year brought a ton of excitement to Pitman FFA. From giving back to the community through service or uncovering different opportunities that build our members' leadership skills, event by event it was a semester full of service, learning, and fun, and there’s still so much more to come.
To kick off the season, Pitman FFA hosted its first meeting of the season on Aug. 14. A Welcome Back Ice Cream Social was held during lunch. This year’s event added a fun twist, bringing out volleyball nets, Spikeball, and flag football, transforming the amphitheater into a lively social field day with ice cream, despite the August heat. In addition, the chapter gave back through a Back-to-School Supply Drive, with donations later delivered by our chapter officers to the Turlock Gospel Mission in downtown Turlock. This event set a positive tone for the semester, strengthening member connections while focusing on Pitman FFA’s commitment to service and community involvement.
During September, Pitman FFA had an active and successful start to the school year through multiple events that promoted leadership, agriculture, and community involvement. The semester began with Club Rush on Sept. 5, where Pitman FFA held a booth showcasing the many pathways offered through the chapter, including welding, horticulture, floriculture, veterinary science, and public speaking events such as Prepared Speech, Impromptu, BIG, and the Spanish Creed. On Sept. 8, Pitman FFA held its annual Tri-Tip Dinner, the chapter’s largest fundraiser of the year, selling over 900 tickets with members assisting in meal preparation, ticket collection, and quality check. Throughout the month, committee meetings on Sept. 9 and 22 allowed members to plan events, create posters, write newsletters, social media posts, and prepare for upcoming activities such as the car show. From Sept. 19–21, 20 Pitman FFA members attended Camp Sylvester in Pinecrest, which was run by the Tri-Rivers sectional team. Two of our chapter officers, Yosgart Toledo and Kiara Velazquez, serve on the sectional team where they were able to run the camp alongside their sectional team and advisor. Our members participated in leadership workshops, bonded with other chapters within our section, and events like the bonfire and opening ceremonies. Additionally, Pitman FFA held monthly community service during Pride Time, where members cleaned out the old vineyard on campus and began preparing new garden beds that will be used for future member projects. Overall, September was a strong and impactful month for the chapter.
October was a busy and successful month for the Pitman FFA Chapter, filled with competitions, leadership growth, and fundraisers. The month began with committee meetings on Oct. 6 and 13, where members worked in teams focused on fundraising, special events, social media, and recruitment while creating posters, writing articles, and planning upcoming activities. On Oct. 8, members attended the annual corn maze meeting at RAM Farms in Turlock, enjoying activities such as the themed corn maze, pumpkins, and haunted attractions while earning an activity credit. Major Leadership development continued on Oct. 13, when freshmen members attended the Greenhand Leadership Conference, participating in workshops, games, and team-building activities. On Oct. 15, Pitman FFA competed at the Tri-Rivers Opening and Closing Ceremonies Contest at Orestimba High School, bringing multiple teams across various grades and divisions while demonstrating strong public speaking and teamwork skills. The chapter also hosted its annual Car Show and Fall Festival on Oct. 18 at Pitman High School, featuring classic cars, tractors, food vendors, carnival games, a petting zoo, and plants sold by the horticulture class. During the event, Price Ford’s Drive 4 UR School fundraiser generated significant donations through test drives to support Pitman FFA and HYLC (Hispanic Youth Leadership Council). To conclude the month, Denair High School FFA held their Sectional Trunk or Treat, where Pitman FFA earned third place for a group costume. Overall, October was a busy and eventful month.
November played a key role as the semester was starting to come to an end. This month focused on learning about the different leadership development events, community service, and member engagement. During the November chapter meeting, officers held a monthly meeting in the back of the Agriculture department to notify and inform members to a variety of Leadership Development Events, including Job Interview, Creed, BIG, Prepared and Impromptu Public Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, Water Issues, and EI Credo for Spanish speaking competitors, helping members begin preparing for upcoming field days as we enter the year and the big sectional competition held on February 4th. The chapter focused on Service as members participated in a canned food drive with the Tri-Rivers Section at Blue Diamond Arena in Ceres California. The chapter also took part in Operation Christmas Child, supporting families in need locally and children around the world during the holiday season. To conclude the month, Pitman FFA hosted CCC (Cocoa, Cookies, and Cards) Night, bringing members together for games, prizes, and friendly competition while collectively bonding as a chapter.
December marked a meaningful close to both the year and the fall semester for Pitman FFA. On Dec. 1, members participated in Letters to First Responders during Pride time, writing letters of appreciation that were later delivered by our chapter officers to the local fire and police stations along with Crumbl cookies as a treat. On Dec. 10, the Tri-Rivers sectional officers held the Sectional Ice Skating, allowing members to connect with students from other chapters. Earlier that morning, Greenhand and Chapter Degree recipients were recognized with a special breakfast and participated in a hand dye activity, leaving their handprints on a poster displayed at the Winter Banquet. To conclude the semester, Pitman FFA hosted its Winter Banquet, where Greenhand and Chapter Degrees were awarded, Members of the Month were recognized, and two members who work at the TUSD School Farm were presented with scholarships from the Turlock Chamber of Commerce for their hard work and dedication to better the school farm.
As the year wrapped up, Pitman FFA hopes the community had a relaxing break and a joyful time with loved ones during the holidays!
An upcoming event taking place on behalf of the Pitman Cross Country and FFA is the Lourenco Memorial Run. On Dec. 15, 2024, the Lourenco family was in a serious car accident on their way to church. Tragically, Matthew, Madelynn, Daniel, and Jennifer Lynn Lourenco all died from the crash leaving only Emma Lourenco with a long road to recovery. The Lourencos touched many lives in their work, school, and church communities. Matthew participated in Pitman Cross Country and FFA during his freshman year before the crash, and Madelynn, a Junior at Pitman, was involved with FFA and volleyball. The Pitman Cross Country and AG department hope to honor the memory of the Lourencos by raising money for a fund to help families grieving from loss. We hope this 5K and 2 mile run will be a time for remembrance and reflection on the Lourenco family as well as a time to honor the memory of
others we have lost. Visit https://tinyurl.com/Lourenco5k for more information and to sign up for the race on Feb. 7.
Make sure to keep up with Pitman FFA on our socials via Instagram and Facebook @pitmanffa02.
—Written by Yosgart Toledo-Farias, Brianna Olson and Tim McCabe
