La Junta FFA

On April 26th, our chapter sent 10 members to CSU Fort Collins, with 9 competing at the State CDEs on the 27th. Students competed in a variety of events, including Milk Quality, Dairy Cattle Evaluation, Food Science, and Land Judging.

We are proud to recognize

Antonio Zamudio for earning the highest individual placing in our district for Dairy Cattle Evaluation.

Brylee Gearheart placed bronze in food science.

Charles Rabenseifner earned a $750 scholarship to CSU Fort Collins while also placing 3rd highest individually.

Congratulations to these individuals, and great job to all members who represented our chapter at the state level!

In addition, we recently competed at the Regional CDEs held at LCC on March 25th, where 15 students participated. Notable placings included:

⭐Land Judging: Charles (2nd), Julez (10th), Aaron (21st)

⭐Food Science: Brylee (5th), Peyton (7th), Peaton and Lyla (42nd)

⭐Milk Quality: Charly (33rd), Ava (43rd)

⭐Veterinary Science: Bailey (82nd), Heather (102nd)

⭐Agricultural Mechanics participants: Triston, Colton, Kolton, and Braxton

Overall, we are incredibly proud of our members who worked hard throughout both regional and state competitions!

Wrap up FFA Week with us with a Froyo Night!
Join us this Saturday from 6:00–8:00 PM at SoCo FroYo for treats, karaoke, games, and to see a little bit of what our chapter is all about.
Everyone is welcome! 💙💛

PLEASE NOTE: This is not a fundraiser and no discounts will be offered! This is simply a social gathering :))

In honor of FFA Alumni Day, we’re taking a trip down memory lane. 💙💛

We recently uncovered these photos from past National FFA Conventions, back when they were held in Kansas City, Missouri.

Now we need your help! Do you recognize anyone in these photos or know what year they were taken? Tag, comment, and share! We’d love to reconnect these memories with the alumni who lived them! Also, feel free to share pictures in the comments or tag us if you are also a La Junta FFA alum!!

Colorado FFA Association

As we continue celebrating FFA Week, here are our last three events to wrap up the week.
We invite all students to join, whether you're a member or not!

2/25 – Blue & Gold Day: wear anything blue or gold (blue and gold hats are welcome).

2/26 – FFA T-Shirt Day: wear your new FFA shirt or any FFA gear (FFA or LJ hat).

2/28 – Frozen Yogurt Social at Soco Froyo (6–8 pm) 🍦: anyone is welcome to join for frozen yogurt, karaoke, and more.

Mark your calendars and come out to support agricultural education and our chapter!

FFA Week is in full swing! Today, February 24, is our dress-up day Yee Yee vs Yee Haw and it’s time to pick your side!!
Boots on, hats up, and no neutral outfits. We can’t wait to see everyone’s FFA spirit!

On Wednesday, January 21st, 16 of our chapter members attended FFA Day at National Western Stock Show in Denver. We had a fantastic day, beginning with our arrival around 11 AM We explored various buildings, including shopping booths, the state officers' area, a petting zoo, and the Legacy Building. The rodeo began around 2 PM, and we watched a variety of events before heading home. We all had a great time!

Yesterday, we had a fantastic time with our state officers, Thomas and Citlali. During their chapter visit, classes participated in various workshops. One class's workshop focused on responsibility and what it means to take ownership of your actions—whether it’s homework, sports, or caring for your animals. A chore is simply something you’re told to do. The officers showed us how taking responsibility can create ripples that influence the people around us.

In this workshop, members worked in groups to create both a positive and a negative “responsibility ripple” skit based on scenarios provided by the officers. It was a fun way to see how our actions, both good and bad, can spread farther than we think.

Another class's workshop centered on building a stable foundation and how that foundation can change when needed. Without a solid foundation, everything else can fall apart. We learned this through hands-on activities, such as supporting a rubber duck on a Lego tower under different circumstances and building guidelines. Another where we were blindfolded as a team and one person who wasn't blindfolded gave directions on how to build a cup tower using string and rubber bands to pick up the cup. Both activities showed the importance of communication, teamwork, and trust.

One of our members’ favorite parts was getting to meet the officers. She said it was fun to get to know them better and spend an hour receiving feedback and advice.

We’re grateful for the time they spent with us today, and we can’t wait to put what we learned into action!

Yesterday, our chapter hosted our district speaking competition, where students competed in extemporaneous speaking and prepared public speaking. Everyone did an outstanding job, and we want to thank all competitors for their hard work, as well as the judges, state officers, and everyone who helped make this event possible. We really appreciate your time and effort!

🥈Charly Jones earned silver in Prepared Speaking with her speech “The Quiet Crisis,” which focused on mental health in agriculture.

🥉Charles Rabenseifner earned bronze in Extemporaneous Speaking with his speech discussing whether agricultural literacy courses should be required in all high schools.

A bit late with this post, but happy Thanksgiving to everyone in our community! We are so grateful for all our members and everyone who supports and encourages us as a chapter. 💙💛

On October 22nd, our chapter hosted its second-ever Safety Day, where eighth-grade students learned about safety in agricultural occupations and in everyday life within our community.

Given the tragedies the Arkansas Valley community has faced over the past few years, our goal is simple: to ensure everyone knows how to stay safe, whether they’re out in the field or around town. Students took part in hands-on demonstrations and short presentations that built awareness, confidence, and a stronger, safer community.

Throughout the day, students learned a variety of lessons, from how to tie a tourniquet and the importance of helmets; to railroad, canal, and gun safety, as well as how to stay alert around grain bins and livestock.

A huge thank you to our incredible community, who helped make this event possible: BNSF Safety Team, Pryor Guns, La Junta Police Department, La Junta Fire Department, and Fort Lyon Canal.
We also want to recognize our own FFA members who stepped up to teach lessons and share their knowledge throughout the day!

Together, we’re working to keep our community safe, informed, and prepared.

Tonight’s the night! Our chapter is hosting our Hired Hand Auction at La Junta Jr/Sr High School. We know times are tough right now, but we appreciate any support! There will also be a donation box if you prefer not to bid but still want to help.

Dinner and admission are completely free; dinner starts at 5:30 p.m., and the auction begins at 6:30 p.m.

Each student starts at $100 for 8 hours of work, whether that’s chores, welding, yard work, house projects, or anything else!

Come out, enjoy a meal, and help support our FFA chapter. We’d love to see everyone there!