California Ag Network

Tag: FFA leadership

  • California FFA Foundation Supporters Recognized at 2025 National Convention

    California FFA is proud to celebrate a distinguished group of leaders, educators, and supporters recognized at the 2025 National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis. This year, 22 California FFA Honorary American FFA Degree recipients were awarded, along with one recipient of the VIP citation.

    The Honorary American FFA Degree is awarded to individuals who have provided exceptional service at the national level to agriculture, agricultural education, or FFA. Recipients include educators, industry partners, community leaders, and advocates who go above and beyond to support FFA members and agricultural education programs. Individuals honored with the VIP citation have dedicated 20 years of service to FFA and agricultural education on a national level.

    Of the 22 individuals recognized nationally, four were nominated by the California FFA Foundation for their continued support of its mission to secure resources and partnerships that create opportunities for students across the state. This year’s California FFA Foundation honorees include Jenny Nicolau and Rebecca Bailey of the Almond Board of California; Emily Rooney, California FFA Foundation Board Member and Ag Council of California President; and Toni Lindeleaf, past California FFA Foundation Board Member. Additionally, Charles Parker, who recently retired from his role as State Supervisor for Agricultural Education and State FFA Advisor, received National FFA’s VIP Citation.

    “California FFA is strengthened by leaders who believe in students and serve as advocates for agricultural education across our state,” said Matt Patton, executive director of the California FFA Foundation. “These Honorary American FFA Degree and VIP Citation recipients have helped create opportunity, mentorship, and hands-on learning for FFA members across our state, and we are pleased to see their efforts recognized at the national level.”

    In addition to this year’s Foundation honorees, California FFA is proud to acknowledge the remaining Honorary American FFA Degree recipients: Mike Albiani, Joe Buffington, Sara Carney, Amber Charter, Peggy Flynn, Amanda Galan, JessaLee Goehring, Wesley Hunt, Amy Jacobsen, Johan Jacobsen, Julie Luxon, Celeste Morino, Jenny Lynn Oilar-Svejda, Gregory Osmundson, Mayra Osmundson, Jon Sellenrick, Lisa Wright and Mark Wright.

    About California Association, FFA, and the California FFA Foundation: The California Association, FFA, serves more than 108,000 students, developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. The California FFA Foundation supports these efforts by securing resources and partnerships that make these opportunities possible for students statewide. To learn more about the California FFA, visit calaged.org.

    Facebook: @CaliforniaFFA | LinkedIn: @California-FFA-Association | Instagram: @californiaffa | TikTok: @officialcaliforniaffa

  • Jill Sperling Named State Supervisor of Ag Education and California State FFA Advisor

    The California Association, FFA, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jill Sperling as the new State Supervisor of Agricultural Education and California State FFA Advisor. Her selection was made by the California Department of Education, taking effect on May 1, 2025, following the retirement of Charles Parker. She becomes the first woman to serve in this role in the organization’s nearly 100-year history.

    A respected agricultural educator and mentor, Sperling brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and leadership to the position, having earned multiple local and state awards for her excellence in teaching and service. Prior to this position, she served as the Central Region FFA Advisor for 10 years, supporting 86 agricultural education programs spanning from Sacramento to Merced counties. Before joining the state leadership team, Sperling spent 14 years as an agriscience educator and FFA advisor at Kingsburg High School.

    “I am immensely proud to be the first female State Supervisor of Agriculture Education and State FFA Advisor in California,” Sperling shared. “I have deep roots in agriculture education and grew up seeing the meaningful impacts that agriculture teachers make on the lives of their students through the three-circle model of agriculture education. I have been honored to serve the teachers and FFA members of the Central Region for the past ten years and am looking forward to working with my colleagues to provide leadership to the 108,000+ FFA members and over 1,100 agriculture teachers throughout our great state in the years to come.”

    As State FFA Advisor, Sperling will help lead the strategic vision of the California Association, FFA, supporting more than 108,000 members across 366 chapters. She will work in close partnership with California’s regional advisors to ensure local programs meet the diverse needs of students, while also collaborating with the California FFA Foundation, California Agricultural Teachers’ Association, and the California Department of Education to support the organization’s growing and evolving programs.

    Stepping into this distinguished role marks both a personal and professional achievement for Sperling. A native of Sacramento County and a proud American FFA Degree recipient, she follows in the footsteps of her father, Bob Heuvel, who served in this same position for nearly 30 years. Her husband, Dustin, is also a former FFA member, and their children, Auston and Avery, are former and current members of their local FFA program.

    About California Association, FFA: The California Association, FFA, serves more than 108,000 students and strives to make a difference in their lives by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. To learn more about the California FFA, visit calaged.org.