2025 Merit Recipients

Jacob Schragl - Shandon FFA

Tractor Restoration: $1,000 Awarded | Sponsored by the Heidi Beljean Memorial Fund

Price McLaughlin - Kingsburg FFA  

Ag Mechanics Project: $1,000 Awarded | Sponsored by GSAF General Fund

Caleb Terrell - Templeton FFA

Tractor Restoration $1,000 Awarded | Sponsored by Tom Madden

LEo St. Martin - Paso Robles FFA

Ag Mechanics Project: $1,000 Awarded | Sponsored by AMMCG Law

Valeria Beltran -Gonzales FFA

Market Hog Project: $1,500 Awarded | Sponsored by Zada Fresh Farms

Rylee Demarta - Cloverdale FFA

Breeding Swine Project: $1,500 Awarded| Sponsored by the Rhys Ludlow Memorial Fund

Sam Shea - Escondido FFA

Market Hog Project: $1,500 Awarded| Sponsored by the Rhys Ludlow Memorial Fund

Marco Pinon - Frazier Mountain FFA

Market Hog Project: $1,500 Awarded| Sponsored by the Heidi Beljean Memorial Fund

Adriel Lambert - Gonzales FFA

Market Hog Project: $1,500 Awarded | Sponsored by Zada Fresh Farms

Isaac Cuevas - Soledad FFA

Market Hog Project: $1,500 Awarded | Sponsored by Zada Fresh Farms

Erick Lott - Lindsay FFA

Breeding Sheep Project: $1,500 Awarded | Sponsored by the Heidi Beljean Memorial Fund

Gricelda Ramos - Avenal FFA

Market Lamb Project: $1,500 Awarded | Sponsored by the Heidi Beljean Memorial Fund

Evelyn Perea - GrEenfield FFA

Market Lamb Project: $1,500 Awarded | Sponsored by Zada Fresh Farms

Sophia Rivas -Santa Maria FFA

Market Lamb Project: $1,500 Awarded | Sponsored by the Heidi Beljean Memorial Fund

Valeria Arenas - Santa Paula FFA

Market Lamb Project: $1,500 Awarded | Sponsored by Farm Credit West

Valery Haros - Brawley FFA

Market Lamb Project: $1,500 Awarded | Sponsored by the GSAF General Fund

Addison Tenente - Escalon FFA

Market Steer Project: $2,500 Awarded | Sponsored by Elwood Ranch

Brendy Puckett - Peter Johansen FFA

Market Steer Project: $2,500 Awarded | Sponsored by Turlock Auction Livestock Yard

Joseph Schohr- Gridley FFA

Breeding Beef Project: $2,500 Awarded | Sponsored by the Heidi Beljean Memorial Fund

Morgan Flato - Pleasant Grove 4-H

Market Steer Project: $2,500 Awarded | Sponsored by the Rhys Ludlow Memorial Fund

Kelly Christy - Visalia Tech Early College FFA

Market Steer Project: $2,500 Awarded | Sponsored by the GSAF General Fund

Natalie Giuntoli - Escalon FFA

Market Steer Project: $2,500 Awarded | Sponsored by the GSAF General Fund

Stephanie Mendoza - Maxwell FFA

Market Steer Project: $2,500 Awarded | Sponsored by the GSAF General Fund

Carmen Varela - Lindsay FFA

Small Stock/Rabbit Project: $1,000 Awarded | Sponsored by GSAF Directors in Memory of Guy Gary

Kylor Arechiga - Liberty Ranch FFA

Market Rabbit Project: $1,000 Awarded| Sponsored by the GSAF General Fund

Grace CarRillo - Green Valley 4-H

Market Goat Project: $1,500 Awarded | Sponsored by the GSAF General Fund

Ava Garben - Rodriguez FFA

Breeding Goat Project: $1,500 Awarded | Sponsored by the GSAF General Fund

Edgar Blancas - Wheatland FFA

Market Steer Project: $1,500 Awarded | Sponsored by Radiant Reds

Manuel Ramirez - Lindsay FFA

Plant Science Project: $1,000 Awarded | Sponsored by Heidi Beljean Memorial Fund


Meet Our Featured Merit Recipients

Meet Erick Lott, a Breeding Sheep Harvest of Merit Award Recipient and an active member of the Lindsay FFA. Margo, is his breeding ewe that he will be exhibiting for the rest of the summer at various county and state exhibitions!

Erick’s project is sponsored by the Heidi Beljean Memorial Fund.


Meet Gricelda Ramos, an active member of the Avenal FFA. She exhibited a market lamb at the Kings County Fair in Mid-June. Griselda’s project was fully sponsored by the Heidi Beljean Memorial Fund. Griselda’s market lamb was selected 2nd in there respective market class and Griselda was selected as the 9th Overall FFA Sheep Showman as well.


Meet Edgar Blancas, a active member of the Wheatland FFA Chapter. Edgar exhibited his market goat at the Yuba Sutter Fair in June. Edgar will be starting the 2025 school year as his FFA Chapter’s President.

Edgar’s market goat project was sponsored by Radiant Reds, which is a Boer goat breeder in Northern California.