By Anna Pier
Spirits were high and excitement was in the air the morning of August 5 at the animal barns at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds. A total of 25 Sonoma Valley High FFA (Future Farmers of America) students had brought animals to the Sonoma County Fair, some bringing two different species, and were showing them over several days leading up to the Fair’s opening. Ag teacher Connie Jones affirmed the feeling of joy. “They all come together over their passion,” said the Sonoma Valley High teacher, who has taught ag classes and advised the FFA program there for two years. Clearly well-taught, the students all reflected confidence, knowledge and maturity.
Many of the students had raised their animals on site at Sonoma Valley High’s ag barn, located at the south edge of campus. All of them praised the opportunity that affords the Sonoma FFA students, pointing out that very few schools have such facilities.
Connie Jones came to SVHS for a long-term sub position that turned into a full-time job. She holds a degree in Agricultural Communications from Oklahoma State University, and a Career Technical Education Teaching Credential. She herself has a string of Brown Swiss cows which she planned to show the following week.
Also helping the Sonoma High students at the Fair was Yesenia Rivas, Assistant FFA Advisor over the summer. Rivas described Jones as “an amazing mentor.” Rivas was last year’s Dairy Princess in District 2, one of the six California Districts, comprising Lake, Marin, Napa Solano and Sonoma Counties. The young SRJC student said that, as Dairy Princess, she spoke all over the District for the dairy and beef industry, describing it as an amazing opportunity. As a child, she spent every summer on her abuelo’s farm in Zapotlán el Rey, Mexico, where her parents have returned to live. Both Jones and Rivas helped introduce me to some of the Sonoma High students who had their animals there.
The following stories are representative of the spirit, dedication, enthusiasm and downright joy that the FFA farming experience provides to all the participating students. The program is clearly a treasure of Sonoma Valley High.
Meeting up in the Swine Barn, I first talked with entering seniors Lily Noh and Gracie Weaver. This was Gracie’s first year raising a market hog. She said she watched a lot of videos on YouTube to help coach her on how to show a hog. Lily had raised a hog last year, and I asked her how she deals with knowing that she will leave her pigs behind to be butchered. She replied very wisely, “They were already born to be for meat. I’m just loving them. The best thing for them is to be raised with love.” Both girls were able to raise their pigs at the animal barn at Sonoma High, where they saw them all frequently, even at lunch time, and both plan to raise another set of piglets this spring. Lily, FFA Historian, has taken ag chemistry, ag bio and ag mechanics, and plans to go to a trade school after graduating, to learn pipe welding. Gracie, FFA Secretary, wants to get EMT (Emergency Medical Tech) certified, and then get a BS in Fire Science, with the dream of working at a local fire station.
I went next to see the meat pen rabbits, and spoke with Brianna Ángeles, Faith Hoffman, Lourdes Ponce and Veronica Nápoles. They talked about raising their rabbits since May. Veronica and Lourdes kept their rabbits at the high school barn. They explained that, trying not to get attached, they didn’t give their animals names, making it easier to say goodbye.
Kaylee Ellsworth was raising and showing for the first time. Proud of her market goat, Mr. Tea, she said he’s “super soft – I just washed him.” She was inspired to raise an animal by her younger sister in 4H. “It looked like a lot of fun.” Kaylee acknowledged that since it’s her first time, selling her goat “will be extra difficult” for her.
Her older sister, Kylie Ellsworth, was showing her Hampshire lamb, Cosmo, bred and raised at the school farm. She took third in showmanship. Kylie has been accepted at Montana State University, where she plans to study ag business. She explained that she wanted to go to school out of California, and chose Montana because she visited her grandfather’s ranch in that state every summer.
Melia Suazo said raising her lambs “has taught me a lot of patience.” They were part of Kylie Ellsworth’s herd that she bred. Melia is the FFA Recorder, and offered that she hopes to grow the program, “to get people involved and excited in the FFA community.” Knowing that the pair would be sold for market at the end of the week, she believes she is prepared, as she had watched it already with her sisters.
This was Maryanna Beale’s second year at the Fair. Last year her goat did “really good in market,” taking sixth, and she took fourth in Showmanship.
Tilly Francis had an enchanting smile as she talked about her lambs, which she raised on the Sonoma Valley High School farm. This is her fourth year showing lambs. Tilly is off to the University of California Berkeley, where she will study architecture. She explained that she has always liked math and design, and plans to focus on sustainability, incorporating environmental and agricultural sciences.
Ava Stockton, showing steers for the second year, brought Pancho and Lefty, nicknames for her steers Merle Haggaard and Willie Nelson. She said she took them earlier to the Petaluma Fair, so they would have experience and not be as stressed out. Entering her junior year at Sonoma High, after graduation she wants to study ag law or ag business.
Entering senior and FFA president Jaqueline Strand, interviewed in the August 6 Sun, took second place in her Showmanship class, with her market lamb Chad.
Main Photo: Assistant Advisor Yesenia Rivas with Ava Stockton and her steer Pancho
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