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Blue corduroy jackets, a symbol of the traditions and fellowship found behind each FFA member, were gifted to local students Wednesday by the Delaware Farm Bureau during the 90th annual Delaware FFA conference.

 

“Today, I’m here representing the Delaware Farm Bureau as its president. But yesterday, I was just like you, an FFAer, student at Milford High School, past chapter leader, a past state leader and the ideals that I learned from my involvement with the FFA I’ve applied specifically to my leadership life as an agriculturist,” DFB President Richard Wilkins said on stage before presenting the Blue Jacket Bonanza awardees during the conference.

 

Describing the jacket as a “great symbol of American agriculture,” he continued, “It gives us great pleasure to be able to support you with the Blue Jacket Bonanza Program. Because we realize, the Farm Bureau leaders, that when you put on this blue and gold jacket, that you’re representing the traditions and the spirits of citizenship, of leadership, of vocational education.”

 

This year, 44 students received the gift of an FFA blue jacket through the program. Since 2015, Delaware Farm Bureau has awarded 291 jackets totaling $17,525 through the program.

 

Sussex Technical High School student Taylor Bullis received a blue jacket through the program last year. During the conference, she was given the opportunity to express her heartfelt gratitude for the gift.

“To me, it was just an incredible feeling to own my first personal Sussex Tech FFA jacket. Wearing it connects me to the members and officers who came before me and keeps me focused on the goals ahead,” she said. “To me, my blue jacket means much more than just my involvement in the FFA. It symbolizes my growth as a person, as a student and as a leader. Our blue corduroy jacket is much more than just fabric and stitching. It’s a symbol of hope, of hard work, of determination, of sacrifice and of friendship. My blue corduroy jacket represents how the FFA, just like the Farm Bureau, has stood the test of time and will continue to stand.”

 

Awardees for 2020 include:

 

Caesar Rodney High School

Vanessa Gaines

Madison Arsenault

Joshua Boyles

Abigail Meaney

Gabrielle Frasier

Luis Moreno

Donna Urian

Shelby Serrano

Karissa Hernandez

 

Seaford High School

Zane Adams

Nathalia Arbaiza

Hannah Moore

 

MOT Charter School

Karen Netto

Amanda Martin

Daisy Timney

 

Sussex Central High School

Elizabeth Houseman

Breyden Wright

Katerine Gutierrez

Leilani Brogan

Kailie Olszewski

Rebecca Tripp

 

Middletown High School

Rylee Albany

Weslee Harkins

Faith Housler

Jacob Green

Ashlee Prall

Reese Albany

Adrianna Mazzio

Emerson Hickey

Anna Kimbel

 

Woodbridge High School

Harley Short

Sabrina Gerving

 

Thomas Mckean High School

Makayla Bradley

 

Smyrna High School

Isabella McMullen

Alexis McCanney

Sydney Kirch

Evan Denney

Elizabeth Evans

Hannah Everhart

Megan Dinsmore

Faith Hewes

 

William Penn High School

Harlie Malvezzi

Ardella Webb

 

Appoquinimink High School

Keeley McCormick

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Photo attached.

Delaware Farm Bureau President Richard Wilkins (left) joins Delaware FFA State Treasurer Trey Thompson (right) in presenting the 2020 Blue Jacket Bonanza awardees during the 90^th annual Delaware FFA conference.