Grab your tickets for a chance to win a John Deere 1023E Sub-Compact Utility Tractor valued at $20,000 or a $20,000 credit to any Stotz Equipment store in Arizona. Can you imagine working with the Stotz Equipment staff to arrange for the prize if you select the Compact Tractor or go shopping with a store credit of $20,000? Take a chance and, at the same time, know that your contribution is going towards supporting agriculture agriculture education and FFA in Arizona!

Tickets are 1 for $100 or 3 for $275 and may be purchased online at www.blueandgoldgala.org or in stores at Bales Hay in Buckeye, Maid Rite Feeds in Willcox or one of the 5 Olsen’s Grain Stores in northern Arizona located in Prescott, Dewey, Verde Valley, Chino Valley and Flagstaff.

In-store ticket sales will close January 20, 2025. Online tickets are being sold through January 31, 2025. The winning ticket will be drawn on February 1, 2025 at the 9^th Annual Blue & Gold Gala!

We are incredibly grateful to Stotz Equipment for supporting the raffle for past nine years! Grab your tickets today and be a part of supporting agriculture education and FFA in Arizona! Take a chance on winning this amazing prize!

Only 15 Tables Remaining

Take a glimpse of the 2024 Gala!

The tickets are going quickly for the 9th annual Blue & Gold Gala! We invite you to join us on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa for the "Biggest Night in Arizona Agriculture". This event will bring together 750 attendees to celebrate agriculture education and the FFA. This event makes an incredible impact for our youth and agriculture educators to provide leadership experiences, professional development, chapter travel grants, and much more. The night will be filled with time to catch up with friends and colleages, an amazing silent auction, a delicious dinner, fantastic live auction, award recognition and an after-party.

Each year we recognize the Blue & Gold Honoree awarded by the Foundation and the Agriculturalist of the Year that is presented by the Arizona Association FFA. This year we are thrilled to recognize Ron and Heather Rayner as the Blue & Gold Honorees! We will announce the Agriculturalist of the Year in the coming months when the selection process is completed.

This is a great event to support and showcase your commitment to agriculture education in Arizona by becoming a sponsor. We have many sponsorship opportunities available from $500 - $10,000. Sponsorship opportunities are available by clicking the link below.

Limited accommodations are available at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa. The deadline to book your room is December 27, 2024, however we have sold out early in prior years, so do not wait to make your reservation. Rooms can be booked through this link, Hotel Reservations. If you have any challenges booking a room, please contact us.

Now is a great time to plan a night out. Pick up a few tickets or gather some friends, family and colleagues, to secure a table sponsorship for the premier social event of the year! Since launching the registration, we have 600 tickets already secured, so don't delay! This event historically sells out!

Register today through the link below. If you have any questions, please contact us at Foundation@azffafoundation.org.

Seeking Silent Auction Donations

We are seeking donations for the Blue & Gold Gala silent auction! This is one of the many highlights of the evening during the reception, with a vast array of unique items, generously donated by businesses and individuals. Ideas may include: goods, services, experiences and gift certificates, that will captivate attendees and make our silent auction a resounding success. The silent auction is available online which allows the 750 event attendees and those not able to attend to all participate. If you are interested in donating, you may click the link on the event site to submit your donation. Donations must be in hand by November 1, 2024.

Help us create this incredible fundraising element for the gala!

Only a Few Days Remaining to Experience the Arizona Ridge Riders and Support FFA

Only a few days remain to grab your tickets to witness Arizona's own professional bull riding team, the Arizona Ridge Riders, on October 4-6, 2024, at the Desert Diamond Arena, in Glendale, Arizona.

Grab your tickets for one or more of the performances! Use the special link below and $5 from each ticket purchased through the code will go back to the Arizona FFA Foundation to benefit the Arizona Association FFA State Leadership Camp!

Each summer nearly 300 FFA members from across Arizona attend the State FFA Leadership Camp. This is a full week of leadership development, team building, meeting new friends and personal growth.

Join the Arizona Ridge Riders for some exciting action packed bull riding and support FFA. Gather your friends, family, colleagues and make it a special event!

Performances are

• October 4th at 6:45 pm
• October 5th at 5:45 pm
• October 6th at 11:45 am

We hope to see you at the the Arizona Ridge Rider Days!

Foundation Board Commits to

Planning for the Future

The FFA Foundation Board is comprised of 25 volunteer members. Recently they gathered at the University of Arizona, Scottsdale Center for two days of indepth strategic planning and a business meeting. We were honored to have Aaron Alejandro, Executive Director of the Texas FFA Foundation join us to lead this process.

This past June, the Foundation updated the mission and vision for the Foundation and still continue to focus on both our students and educators as we move forward in developing the strategic plans for the coming year to make sure we are making a positive impact.

Mission

Empowering the next generation of agricultural leaders: The Arizona Agricultural Education/FFA Foundation cultivates strategic partnerships and secures financial resources to invest in Arizona's FFA members, agricultural educators, and communities. By doing so, we empower FFA members to develop strong leadership skills, achieve personal growth, and build successful careers.

Vision

Fortify Arizona's agricultural education and FFA programs, empowering students and agriculture educators for success in a competitive marketplace.

National FFA Convention Approaching

The National FFA Convention is approaching October 23-26, 2024 in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is the largest annual gathering of students with more than 72,000 attendees. Hundreds of Arizona FFA members will travel back to Indianapolis to experience an opportunity of a lifetime .

The Arizona Association FFA State Officers will travel earlier in the week to participate in delegate business meetings.

The Arizona FFA Foundation wishes all award recipients and Career Development contestants the best of luck! We are honored to have Arizona's own National Officer Candidate, Sidney Casillas, from Arizona Agribusiness & Equine Center, Estrella Mountain FFA Chapter representing Arizona and wish her the best.

Students will have the chance to attend leadership workshops, listen to motivational speakers, witness award recognition, and participate in the community service projects. Students will be able to explore career and educational opportunities with hundreds of companies, community colleges, universities, and trade schools in the Expo.

You can watch all live sessions of the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo on FFA Live!: A streaming broadcast that will be available on FFA.org and FFA social media platforms. FFA Live! will cover the convention from the first gavel on Wednesday, October 23 to the election of the 2024-25 National FFA Officers on Saturday, October 26.

Support Arizona FFA with each order through Walmart.com or the Walmart app, by making the Arizona FFA Foundation your preferred charity, when signed into your account. Then just check the "round up" box with each order at checkout.

The Foundation is an approved charity for the Fry's Community Rewards Program. If you do not already have a charity tied to your rewards card, or do not have a rewards card set up, it is easy to establish.

Visit https://www.frysfood.com. Once logged into your Fry's account, you can search for The Arizona Agricultural Education FFA Foundation, either by name or RS160, and then click enroll. New users will need to create an account, which requires some basic information, a valid email address, and a rewards card. Each time you shop using your Fry's Rewards card, after you have attached us as your charity, then we will receive benefits.