The 9th annual Blue & Gold Gala was a remarkable success, bringing together over 700 attendees to celebrate "The Biggest Night in Arizona Agriculture" and raising more than $500,000. Guests gathered at the Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa for an unforgettable evening, where Ron and Heather Rayner were honored as the Blue & Gold Honorees, and the Arizona Association FFA recognized David Auza as the Agriculturalist of the Year.

The night was filled with excitement, featuring a silent auction, live auction, raffles, and generous contributions from attendees. This year's Gala Raffle winner was Tom Van Hofwegen. We are incredibly grateful for the support of the community and local businesses. The Arizona Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Financial Services proudly served as the title sponsors for the ninth consecutive year. Words cannot fully express our appreciation for everyone who helped make this event a success. We could not host this event without the incredible support of our donors and the dedication of our many volunteers.

Blue & Gold Gala Awards

Blue & Gold Honorees Ron & Heather Rayner

During the Blue & Gold Gala, we honored the essence of the event and the steadfast support of our mission. The Blue & Gold Honoree award recognizes an individual, group, or organization that embodies this spirit, demonstrating exceptional dedication to our Foundation, Arizona FFA students, and the rich tradition of agricultural education in our state.

It was with great honor that we recognized this year’s Blue & Gold Honorees, Ron and Heather Rayner.

Heather’s vision and passion were the driving force behind this gala. Nine years ago, she dared to dream—envisioning an event that would not only celebrate the achievements of our students but also ignite a movement of support for agricultural education. And what a movement it has become! The room, filled with energy and purpose, was a testament to her extraordinary foresight.

Beyond the gala, Heather has served on the Foundation Board for an incredible 25 years, retiring last year as President after a remarkable tenure.

Ron, a proud alumnus of the Avondale FFA Chapter, has a rich history with FFA, serving as State Secretary in 1958-1959 and State President in 1959-1960. And, most impressively, he can still fit into his FFA jacket from 65 years ago!

Together, Ron and Heather have created a lasting legacy of support for Arizona FFA. Through their farm, A Tumbling T Ranch, and their personal generosity, they have championed scholarships, sponsored multiple proficiency awards, supported the Communication Career Development Event, and contributed to the State FFA Scrapbook Contest.

We are deeply grateful for the dedication, generosity, and steadfast belief in the power of FFA that Ron and Heather continue to provide.

It was our privilege to recognize Ron and Heather Rayner as the 2025 Blue & Gold Honorees.

Agriculturalist of the Year

The Agriculturalist of the Year award, presented by the Arizona Association, honors an individual within the agricultural community who exemplifies strong leadership and has made a significant contribution to Arizona agriculture and the surrounding community. This year, it was our privilege to recognize David Auza as the 2024 Agriculturalist of the Year!

David is an exceptional agriculturalist, a dedicated community service leader, and a strong supporter of both FFA and 4-H. A former member of the Yuma FFA Chapter, he has long been an advocate for the Arizona Association and the Foundation. Over the years, David has supported the Blue & Gold Gala, the State Leadership Conference Dance, various fundraisers, and his company, Auza Contracting, has been a prominent exhibitor at the State Conference Career & Education Fair. He also lends his time and expertise to assist Chandler and other surrounding FFA chapters.

Together with his wife, Jill, David has raised $555,308 for the Addison Auza Scholarship Fund, which has awarded over $148,000 in scholarships to 24 fair exhibitors across Maricopa, Yuma, Coconino, and Pinal counties.

David embodies the values in the FFA Creed: “I believe in the future of agriculture, not only with words but with deeds.” He has mentored numerous youth members through their livestock projects, even raising breeding lambs to help students afford their projects. Whether he is interacting with livestock exhibitors during shows or offering guidance to new faces, David’s influence is deeply felt by all those he mentors.

We were incredibly proud to honor David Auza as the 2024 Agriculturalist of the Year.

The Arizona FFA Foundation is honored to have Stotz Equipment as a valued partner in the Fundraising for Ag Education initiative. We are deeply grateful for their unwavering support over the past nine years! This year’s grand prize was a John Deere 102E Sub-Compact Utility Tractor, valued at $20,000.

Pictured left to right: Darrel Lewis - Stotz Equipment, Avondale Store; Victoria Gonzalez , State FFA Vice President At Large; Bryan and Jessica Monroy and Katherine Johnson, State FFA Sentinel.

Bryan and Jessica Monroy and Katherine Johnson, State FFA Sentinel.

There is still time to register or become a sponsor for the 11th annual Bustin' Clay for FFA Trap Shoot! Join us on April 5th at the Tucson Trap & Skeet Facility for an incredible day to support agriculture education and FFA!

Sponsorship Opportunities:

• Double Barrel - Includes one team of 5, ammo for team and trap sign
• Signage Sponsor
• Technology Sponsor
• Trap Sponsor
• Award Sponsor

This is a great event to be a part of to expand your network, meet new people, or market your products or services. Don't forget to grab your raffle tickets or mulligans when you register online.

Don't delay and register today to secure your spot. Grab some friends, family or colleagues and join us on April 5,2025.

The deadline for the 1928 Senior Society is fast approaching—April 24, 2025! Don’t miss the opportunity to honor a 2025 High School Senior by making a one-time donation of $19.28 per High School Senior Arizona FFA member to the Arizona FFA Foundation.

1928 marks the year the National FFA Organization was founded, making it a significant part of our history.

Each inductee will receive a Senior Society FFA decal, have their name listed in the State FFA Leadership Conference app, be recognized on screen with the Senior Society list during a conference session, and have their name displayed on this webpage from spring 2025 to spring 2026.

To honor a 2025 Senior, simply click the link below.

96th State FFA Leadership Conference

We invite you to join us from June 5-7, 2025, for the 96th State FFA Leadership Conference!

This year, we have some exciting changes in store. The conference will kick off at the Tucson Convention Center, featuring a variety of Career and Leadership Development Events, the Career & Education Fair, a new Talent Showcase Stage, and engaging workshops.

The general sessions will continue to be held at Centennial Hall on the University of Arizona campus. Stay tuned for more details!

There are several sponsorship opportunities available, ranging from $275 to $6,000. We encourage you to visit the link below to discover how you can make an impact on this important annual event.

Career & Education Fair

Join over 40 exhibitors at the Career & Education Fair during the 96th State FFA Leadership Conference on Thursday, June 6, 2025, at the Tucson Convention Center. We're excited about the new changes this year, which will bring over 1,000 students, advisors, and guests to the conference. This event offers a great opportunity for companies, community colleges, universities, and agricultural associations to showcase career pathways for students to explore.

With the addition of extra space, we’re offering two types of registration this year: one for tabletop displays and another for companies that wish to showcase equipment.

Early registration ends on May 1, 2025. If your company donated $2,500 or more to the Arizona FFA Foundation between July 2024 and June 2025, please contact Shelby Naber for a special code to receive a complimentary tabletop display. For more details, click the link below or contact Shelby at Shelby@azffafoundation.org.

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.