Current FFA officers welcome upcoming officers at their annual banquet

By Donya Hassanshahi

On Monday May 9, the 2021-2022 FFA (Future Farmers of America) officer team parted with their positions as the upcoming 2022-2023 officer team inherited the responsibility for the program.

The Redwood FFA awards and installation banquet is student driven. During the event, attendees eat as the accomplishments of FFA members are recognized. A major accomplishment that is recognized is state certification.

Each class (freshman, sophomores, juniors, seniors) and community supporters (honorary lifetime members) are highlighted during the ceremony. At this time, the new executive board, elected officers, are sworn in.

This year, there are eight honorary lifetime members: Mr. Doug Cardoza (VUSD Superintendent), Mr. Mark Thompson (VUSD Assistant Superintendent), Mrs. Dedi Somavia (VUSD Assistant Superintendent), Mr. Michael Wright (Redwood Athletic Director), Mrs. Aubrey Buchanan (Redwood Counselor), Mrs. Aubrey Langer (Substitute Teacher, long-time supporter of FFA program), Mrs. Shay Williams-Hopper (FFA San Joaquin Region Director), and Mr. Nathan Hernandez (VUSD Chief Financial Officer).

Mr. John Coon, teacher of all Redwood Agriculture classes, was in attendance at the banquet Monday night. After nearly three years of not being able to have the event, he says, “We’ve really been missing [banquets]; it’s been a big void in our chapter. For us to be back [Monday] night in the gym, having a meal, having awards, being joined by parents, teachers, and administrators, it felt amazing.”

Coon elaborates upon the individuals who have implemented the dedication and hard work throughout this year as an officer. “This group of students have kind of weathered the storm together, so to speak. We’ve gone all the way from normal to crazy and back to normal,” he says regarding the return of the event.

From the banquet, a memorable moment Coon recalls was the senior slideshow and officially installing new officers. He says that, “There’s a moment after every banquet where students come up and want to take a photo with me and their folks want to say hello; those are maybe the greatest moments of the banquet.”

Current FFA President Tessa Hemphill, ’22 has been involved with FFA since her freshman year. As the officer team welcomed new officers, she says, “It was so much fun. I feel like it was a great way to end the year, too, and a great final moment for the officer team.”

In a review of her officer year, Hemphill considers the most memorable moment to be the first official officer meeting of the school year after returning.

After retiring from this position, Hemphill expresses her excitement for next year’s FFA President, Lillie Wasam, ’23. “I’m so proud of her and I know she will do great next year,” she says.

When installing Wasam to this position, Hemphill explains how what is said at the installation ceremony is written prior to the event. While Wasam acquired the role as president, Hemphill says, “[She] was able to personally install [Wasam], which was really great.”

Wasam, who has been a member of FFA throughout the duration of her high school career, says that the most memorable moment was “having everyone back together after two years of COVID. It was really cool to see all the tables full and just see everyone together having fun.”

Since Wasam will be president of the program next year, being alongside both past and future officers was bittersweet. “It felt really good to be with all the new officers, the ones that are already with me and the new ones,” she says as she is excited for the upcoming year.

She says the biggest accomplishment that has been made this year was returning from COVID. As a member of FFA since her freshman year, being able to experience in-person meetings throughout this school year has been a special opportunity for Wasam coming into her fourth year.

As an alumni of Redwood High School, Mrs. Aubrey Buchanan was attending as an honorary member at the banquet. At Redwood, she is a counselor for students with last names A-C.

Considering this is her first year as a staff member of Redwood, Buchanan says that being in attendance of the banquet was, “awesome. [She] was in FFA when [she] was in high school, so it’s fun to see the kids do what [she] once did and to see Mr. Coon do his thing.”

Buchanan expressed her love for the program and being able to celebrated with members. “I never thought that I would come back to Visalia, let alone Redwood, so it’s kind of cool, full-circle, starting in FFA and then coming back,” she says.

Not only did the students make her experience memorable, though it was Coon himself. “I love Mr. Coon. He, obviously, is like a known hero on the Redwood campus, but it is true when he makes the strong connection with students; it is life-long. He influenced me and helped me through high school, and is still doing that for me as an adult,” she adds.

The FFA inaugural 2022 banquet was one to remember for years to come. Through all of the hard work implemented, guests and members had a great time during the ceremonial event.

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