I am an FFA mom who is now a grandmother. All 3 of my sons Will, Aaron and Matt were in FFA at Robertson High School in Las Vegas New Mexico. After our sons graduated and left home they all married lovely country girls, 2 of which were also in FFA. One of the daughters is still active in coaching the forestry team.My husband and I wanted
to continue to support FFA so in 1997 we organized the "The Rociada Buyers Club" in order to purchase animals at our local county fair sale. Any animal we purchase is then donated to the Robertson FFA who then in turn have the meat processed and raffled off as a fund raiser. That money is then used for their trip to Nationals.
In June of 2010 our 100 year old barn was restored to better condition than it had been in all its existence! Thanks to the National FFA Alumni, three FFA chapters from Michigan, Wisconsin and New Mexico along with Campbell’s Soup Company and Valspar Paint Company, who made it all possible. I entered our Upper Peninsula of Michigan barn in a contest sponsored by Campbell’s Soup and FFA Alumni and the ten final barns were placed on line to be voted on by the whole world.
Five were chosen to be renovated and ours was one of the five! Five FFA students from New Mexico, along with students from Michigan and Wisconsin along with family and friends all traveled to Bark River, Michigan to help restore our beloved barn. And you should see it now! I can't thank FFA enough for making a life long dream of preserving our barn come true. I think you can still see the restored barns on www.helpgrowyoursoup.com or on the FFA Alumni Facebook page.THANK YOU FFA !!!!
I would just like to give a very special thanks to Lucy Whitehead with the National FFA Alumni Association. for all her support, encouragement and help with our barn renovation project. What a Gal! Also Amber and everyone else from Nat. FFA Alumni. Also a big thank you to Randy Showerman, MI State FFA Advisor, Dave Wyrick, MI State FFA Staff Dave Armmbruster, MI State FFA Alumni, Melissa Mateske, FFA Advisor Coleman, WI, Pat Wehner, FFA Advisor Stephenson MI, and Gary Leger, FFA Advisor Las Vegas NM. Very sadly Gary Leger was killed in an auto accident shortly after our barn was restored. He is still greatly missed by his students and family and all who knew him. He was a great teacher, mentor and friend. A special thanks to all of the FFA students from NM, MI and WI who came out and helped with the barn. They were all wonderful and made us so proud to be involved with such fine young people and FFA. Our family will remember all of you and your kindness and sacrifice for us and our barn for many generations to come. With sincere appreciation and admiration, The Atencio family
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