Within the Los Banos FFA Chapter, the biggest fundraiser of the year is the Sweetheart Balloon fundraiser in which heart-shaped balloons are purchased and delivered around Valentine’s Day.  The four candidates this year included: Freshmen candidate Jadie Beltran, Sophomore candidate Ryann Vierra, Junior candidate Chloe Emerson, and Senior candidate Belen Gonzalez.

Candidates worked tirelessly throughout the month through working with local business owners and community members to sell balloons. Before long, the entire chapter blew up, tied, and labeled hundreds of Mylar heart-shaped balloons in the days leading up to Valentine’s Day. In addition, parents and the Los Banos Ag. Boosters helped deliver all of these balloons, which was no easy task. The efforts needed to continue this fundraiser every year are truly efforts that are contributed by the entire community.

Through the support and generosity from the community, the four candidates had the opportunity to deliver 1,030 balloons to the Valley Children’s Hospital. Candidates were overjoyed to help, and hoped to spread Valentine’s Day cheer to all of the residents and faculty.

The Sweetheart Dinner was Friday, February 17th. The 2017 Sweetheart was sophomore candidate, Ryann Vierra. She received a belt buckle, scholarship, crown/sash, and name put on the perpetual trophy that was donated by the Carlucci Family. Also announced was the grand total of the Los Banos FFA Sweetheart Balloon Fundraiser which amounted to $32,600, collectively raised by all four of the candidates. The night was a success and all of the candidates and their families enjoyed dinner.  

Ryann Vierra describes the fundraiser explaining, “On Friday, February 17, I was crowned the 2017 Los Banos FFA Sweetheart. This was something that I planned on doing since I was a young girl. Competing meant a great deal to me because I wanted to give back to the FFA organization that had played a significant role in my life.The community of Los Banos is very supportive of our FFA chapter, and wanted to do everything they could to help support the organization.”

To conclude, this fundraiser will help support the over 80 activities that are carried out within the chapter every year. This includes all aspects of the FFA program whether it be in the classroom or at competitions, leaderships conferences, or field days at the local, state, and national level. The Los Banos FFA Chapter would like to thank the entire community of Los Banos for their continuous and overwhelming support in the FFA’s career and technical education.