Julio Gutierrez and the Socorro High FFA chapter are trying to get a jump start on paying their way to the national FFA convention, which is in October.
Members of FFA will have a car wash and bake sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at First State Bank on Manzanares Avenue. They will charge $5 per vehicle they wash.
Gutierrez, who will be a senior at Socorro High in the fall, said he attended the conference last year. He said the students learn valuable leadership skills, and they meet lots of other FFA students from across the country. FFA members also come from the territories of the United States.
“The streets are full of gold and blue jackets. It’s really nice to see. I learned a lot about what other FFA students are doing,” Gutierrez said.
The group didn’t raise enough money to stay for the full four days last October, only staying for two days. Gutierrez said the group raised $1,200 to send five students to the convention, which takes place annually in Indianapolis.
“I want to double that,” he said.
This year’s conference will be Oct. 21 to 24. Gutierrez said with the full four days, it should cost about $6,000 to send the group to Indianapolis this fall. He said the conference is for juniors and seniors.
The Socorro FFA chapter had 47 members this past school year. Gutierrez said FFA is not just about farming. He said FFA members learn to appreciate all that goes into farming – mechanics, for example, or computer technology – and that they understand that many everyday products are derived from agricultural products.
“Agriculture is all around us,” he said.
Socorro’s FFA chapter has a new sponsor after the departure of Steve Bouvet. Brian Mitchell will be the new sponsor, as well as the new agriculture teacher. Mitchell came from Estancia.
Gutierrez said the FFA members will sell fruit in the winter and meat next summer to raise more money. They also plan to have a pie auction in the fall with assistance from the Tumbleweed Equipment & Auction Co. in Lemitar.
For more information or to donate money to the local FFA chapter, call Socorro High School at 835-0700.
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