ALAMOSA — The saying goes, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” And the Alamosa High Chapter of FFA embraced that last weekend.

The weather was naer-perfect Saturday as dozens gathered outside the green house where donated items were auctioned off.

“I’ve been doing the junk auction for about 10 years,” said ag teacher and FFA Advisor Kevin Rice. “All items are donated by friends of the FFA and local businesses.”

Funds go to help pay for events such as participation at contests. In addition, the chapter will attend the state convention in Pueblo the first week in June. He said they’ll most likely have a student compete in the speaker contest and hopefully three ag science participants. “Funds are directed toward leadership opportunities for the kids,” he added.

“We’ll leave a day early and go do something fun with the proceeds from the auction in the past we rode the Cog Railway up Pikes Peak.”

According to its website, FFA is not just for students who want to be production farmers.  FFA also welcomes members who aspire to careers as teachers, doctors, scientists, business owners and more. For this reason, the name of the organization was updated in 1988 after a vote of national convention delegates to reflect the growing diversity and new opportunities in the industry of agriculture.

FFA continues to help the next generation rise up to meet those challenges by helping its members to develop their own unique talents and explore their interests in a broad range of agricultural career pathways. So today, we are still the Future Farmers of America. But, we are the Future Biologists, Future Chemists, Future Veterinarians, Future Engineers and Future Entrepreneurs of America, too.

Today, the National FFA Organization remains committed to the individual student, providing a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. Our members live the motto Learning to Do, Doing to Learn, Earning to Live and Living to Serve. FFA members rise to the challenge of service embracing members of all walks of life united through FFA. We Are FFA.

“Future Farmers of America‚Äù was founded by a group of young farmers in 1928. Their mission was to prepare future generations for the challenges of feeding a growing population. They taught us that agriculture is more than planting and harvesting ‚“it’s a science, it’s a business and it’s an art.”