At a recent Winslow Unified School District board meeting, agriculture teacher Daniel Tafoya and several of his students gave a live demonstration of how their FFA chapter is outperforming hundreds of others across the state and country. Using the Agriculture Experience Tracker (AET), the national record-keeping system for FFA programs, the Winslow students shared rankings, statistics, and personal experiences that highlighted the chapter’s exceptional performance. Since its founding in 2012, the Winslow FFA chapter has consistently focused on student-led learning, and now it ranks among the top 100 in Arizona and the United States.

Olivia Hughes began the presentation by explaining how AET badges are awarded to students who regularly enter their project data and journal entries. A blue badge represents students in the top 25% nationally, and a gold badge is awarded to the top 5%. Winslow currently ranks third in Arizona for badge achievement, and nationally the chapter holds the 71st spot out of more than 9,200 FFA chapters. Hughes noted that only 22 schools in Arizona have even one student ranked in the national top 25%, and Winslow is one of them.

Tanner Westover presented next, speaking about SAEs, or Supervised Agricultural Experiences. These projects can include raising animals, caring for plants, or running small agricultural businesses. Westover is currently raising pigs and turkeys, which he plans to sell at the county fair to help pay for college.

According to Westover, students in the Winslow chapter average about 4.2 projects per year, which places the program second in Arizona and tied for 37th in the nation. Tafoya emphasized that this variety and number of projects often change throughout the year, depending on the season and the student’s interests. One student might start with a vegetable garden and then switch to raising houseplants or a pet project during winter.

Carlos Tafoya, the outgoing chapter president, shared data about journal entries. These entries are submitted weekly and document what each student did for their project that week. The chapter currently averages 41 weekly journal entries per student per year, just shy of the national top 100 list, which starts at 43. Tafoya said students are expected to submit an entry every Thursday, no matter if they are at home, on break, or on vacation. “It’s quick, like 20 seconds,” he said.

He also highlighted how the program allows students to profit from their work. Students raise fish, weld signs and complete paid projects, often keeping the profits themselves. “That money is theirs. They pay for the feed for the fish but they use our fish tanks,” Daniel Tafoya said. In other cases, earnings go back into the FFA program to fund trips and events. Daniel Tafoya said that they also complete many welding projects for the City of Winslow.

Despite the program’s success, Tafoya acknowledged that enrollment has decreased over the past decade. The program had 120 to 130 students 10 years ago; today, it serves about 60. Even so, the program continues to earn statewide and national recognition, and Tafoya credits the district and Career and Technical Education leadership for supporting the program with shop space and resources.

The presentation concluded with appreciation from the board and a few light-hearted remarks from Tafoya and the students before they left to attend the school’s sports assembly. The data and student voices left a clear impression: Winslow FFA is not only thriving but building a strong foundation for student growth that reaches far beyond the classroom.

In other business, the board:

* Accepted a donation to Winslow Junior High School (WJHS) of $525 from Karma Graphics, LLC.

* Approved the hiring of Nathan Bollinger, WJHS math teacher; Amanda Candelaria, paraprofessional; Jennifer Brown, paraprofessional; Luis Petet, Maintenance; Tina Luther, high needs paraprofessional; and Iris Wells, custodian.

* Approved the following resignations: Ginger Fischer, orchestra teacher; Nathan Lindaman, special education director; Cora Fallaha, paraprofessional; Billie James, paraprofessional; Mica Vasquez, Secretary; Coretta Agnew, paraprofessional; and Tiffany Dunn, high needs paraprofessional.

* Approved the following transfers: Kaelynn Warwick from Jefferson paraprofessional to Bonnie Brennan paraprofessional; Danny Borque from custodian to custodian/maintenance/grounds; and Diane Oso from high needs paraprofessional to bus driver.

* Approved Kirkland Yazzie as a facilities volunteer.

* Approved extra duty pay for Ferlin Nez and Brady Needens for coaching boys basketball.

* Approved Lachele Chatwin, business teacher, to chaperone three students traveling to Anaheim, Calif., for Future Business Leaders of America conference.

* Approved the governing board meeting schedule for 2025-2026.

* Approved an intergovernmental agreement with for WUSD to be included in agreements for mutual negotiations of employee benefits and insurance areas.

The next meeting of the WUSD school board will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, in the meeting room, located at 800 N. Apache Ave.