A former Colorado FFA President and National FFA Vice President has launched a campaign to honor a fellow officer who died at the hands of a drunken driver. Rachel Bina is hoping to get $5,000 in funding to install the state officer jacket of Kasey Jo (Walker) Warner to the Colorado FFA Foundation Blue Jacket Society.
“At our last officer reunion at NJC, I greatly enjoyed the camaraderie of seeing you all again. But also took note of those missing from our alumni. As Don Thorn, foundation director, explained the induction criteria for the Blue Jacket Society, I couldn’t help but think of Kasey Jo Walker, her tragic departure from us, and that she would have loved to have been among us. I thought of her dedicated service to Colorado FFA as Vice President in 1998-99 and her career as a rancher and educator that proceeded,” Bina wrote in her letter to Colorado FFA officer alumni.
On Oct. 3, 2007, Warner was jogging on a county road near her home along with her 3-year-old daughter in her kid-size four-wheeler, when a drunk driver lost control of his car and slammed into them. The 28-year-old wife and mother of two was killed instantly. Her daughter was injured but recovered. The driver was sentenced to 55 years in prison in 2010 in connection with Warner’s death.
Bina’s goal is to raise the $5,000 donation necessary to install Kasey’s jacket at the CoBank Center in Fort Collins. The next installation ceremony will take place at Colorado State University AgDay this fall so donations are due by Sept. 20.
“If we chip in an average of twenty-five dollars I know we can easily meet the goal,” Bina said. “The proceeds from the program go to the Colorado FFA Foundation general fund for ag education programs and scholarships. Kasey Jo’s jacket will be framed in a shadow box at the CoBank Center, along with her biography. She will be recognized among those remembered during the presentation of scholarships at the FFA state convention.”
Warner grew up near New Raymer, Colorado where she was actively involved in agriculture, ranch life, and with the New Raymer FFA, serving as chapter president her senior year. She became the Colorado FFA State Vice-President in 1998-99. She earned the American Farmer Degree and was awarded the Star Finalist in the National Beef Proficiency at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., in October of 1999.
Donations are payable online at www.coloradoffafoundation.org. Or check payable to the Colorado FFA Foundation. Mailed to P.O. Box 1000, Greeley, CO 80632.
Tags: FFA News, Agriculture Education, FFA Alumni
