The California FFA is asking for the public’s help after a thief made off with their trailer full of awards, swag, registration materials, and 8,000 Disney tickets for next week’s state convention.
The white Wells Cargo trailer with license plate number 4KJ1127 was stolen from California FFA’s headquarters in Galt at about 3:10 am Wednesday. According to California Highway Patrol, the suspect’s truck is described as a dark-colored, long-bed pickup truck with an extended cab.
California FFA is gearing up for their 90th Annual State FFA Leadership Conference in Anaheim April 22- 25. The trailer was set to take off for Anaheim soon in preparation for the event.
The California FFA is expecting 8,000 members to descend upon Anaheim next week. Keynote speakers include filmmaker Brett Culp and actor JesseLeBeau. National FFA Officers Breana Holbert and Gracie Furnish are also planning on attending.
The California FFA boasts an 87,000-strong state-wide membership from urban schools in Los Angeles and the Bay Area to rural schools all across the state.
Despite those impressive figures, California FFA was on Governor Jerry Brown’s chopping block last year. In his first draft of the 2017-2018 state budget, Brown proposed to completely eliminate the $15 million funding for career technical education programs, such as FFA.
And this wasn’t the first time the governor had taken a swing at the state’s FFA program. In 2014 Brown proposed to cut the $4.1 million Agriculture Education Incentive Grant until hundreds of FFA students from across California gathered at the State Capitol to show how critical the FFA program is to the future of California.
California FFA won the budget battle last year as Brown ended up reversing that section of his 2017-18 state budget proposal.
The California FFA Association is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through Agricultural Education.
