Editor,
I would like to express the biggest thank you to the residents of Los Banos and the neighboring towns! I have been amazed by all the support for the Future Farmers of America (FFA). My name is Jaci Bretz and I am one of the Los Banos FFA Sweetheart candidates.
Running for sweetheart has been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl. Every year I would go to the sweetheart banquets and was wowed by the candidates with their crowns and sashes. I knew one day I’d like to be one of them, and wear a crown and sash too.
For the last few weeks, the other three candidates and I have been selling red mylar balloons for our biggest fundraiser of the year. The funds raised go towards leadership events, conferences, hotel stays, registrations and other FFA activities. Our chapter is fairly large and we participate in lots of things. Having this fundraiser is a huge help to keeping all of this going for our members.
When I started this journey I knew what to expect, but at the same time didn’t know what to expect either. I set a goal for how many balloons I was going to sell, but was encouraged to bring it down because it seemed too out of reach. What I didn’t expect was to meet my lowered goal and even surpass my original goal! And this leads back to the biggest thank you!
I am forever grateful and appreciative to all those who supported myself and other candidates. It has wowed me beyond belief! Even though the sweetheart crowning isn’t until next week, the biggest winner is our FFA Chapter and it is all because of this caring community.
Thank you to all of the supporters,
— Jaci Bretz Los Banos FFA Junior Sweetheart Candidate
