Cultivating Tomorrow Ag Program

Grant Recipients Announced

The Arizona FFA Foundation is honored to announce the recipients of the 2025 Cultivating Tomorrow Ag Program Grants!



This year, the Arizona FFA Foundation awarded $29,100 in grants to support agriculture education programs across Arizona. These funds will help strengthen classroom learning by enhancing infrastructure, updating teaching tools, and providing new opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience in agricultural education.



Please join us in congratulating this year’s recipients:

• Benson
• Buckeye
• Chandler
• Mesquite
• Peoria
• Tanque Verde
• Williams
• Yuma

We extend our sincere appreciation to the generous donors that participate in the fundraising efforts through the Foundation along with the generous donors that contributed directly to make this program possible: Otto & Edna Neely Foundation, DBA Construction, and the Arizona Cattle Industry Research & Education Foundation. Their support continues to make a lasting difference for students, teachers, and programs across the state.



Congratulations to all our grant recipients, your dedication to cultivating tomorrow’s leaders in agriculture is truly inspiring!

The countdown is on and we are more than 60% sold out! We invite you to join us for the Arizona FFA Foundation’s biggest celebration yet, the 10th Annual Blue & Gold Gala, happening Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the beautiful Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Conference Center.

We are grateful for Arizona Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Financial Services over the past 10 years supporting this event as our title sponsors. This event is known as the “Biggest Night in Arizona Agriculture” and this year’s celebration will be one for the books! This year we will also celebrate 40 years for the Arizona FFA Foundation.

✨ Why You Should Attend:

• Mingle with over 700 passionate supporters of agriculture and education
• Enjoy a delicious dinner and vibrant reception experience
• Bid in an exciting silent and live auction with unique items and experiences
• Participate in an exciting raffle
• Celebrate the next generation of Arizona agricultural leaders

We’re excited to welcome back the energetic and inspiring Mrs. Anna Aja, former Arizona State FFA President and passionate advocate for agriculture, as our evening’s auctioneer!

Joining her this year is the incredible Bryan Frye, who will bring his signature charisma and enthusiasm to the stage as our emcee for the night.

We are proud to honor the Arizona Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Financial Services as the 2026 Blue & Gold Honoree! Their unwavering commitment to agriculture education and continued support of the FFA mission make them a true champion of Arizona’s future agricultural leaders.

The announcement for the Agriculturalist of the Year, awarded by the Arizona Association FFA will be announced in the November!

🎟️ Tickets Are Going Fast!

Don’t wait, secure your seats or table sponsorship now for a memorable night out with friends, family, and colleagues! This event historically sells out!

🌟 Support Through Sponsorship

The Blue & Gold Gala is the perfect opportunity to showcase your commitment to agriculture education. Sponsorships range from $500 to $15,000, offering visibility and recognition at one of Arizona’s premier events. Learn more about the sponsorship packages through the link below.

🎁 Donate to the Silent Auction

Our silent auction is a showstopper thanks to the generosity of businesses and individuals like you. We’re now accepting donations of goods, services, experiences, and gift cards. All contributions must be submitted by November 1, 2025. Submit your auction item today via the event site or email gala@azffafoundation.org.

🏨 Hotel Accommodations

Rooms at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa are limited and have sold out early in previous years. The deadline to book is December 30, 2025, but we recommend reserving early. Click here to reserve your room. If you experience any booking issues, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Your support of the Blue & Gold Gala helps fund transformational programs for Arizona FFA members and agriculture educators, programs that inspire, empower, and equip the future leaders of our agriculture industry.

Let’s come together as a community to make this 10th anniversary celebration the most impactful one yet!

👉 Register Now – Reserve Your Seats!

For questions or more information, contact us at Foundation@azffafoundation.org.

With gratitude,

Farrah Smith

Foundation President & Gala Chair

Arizona FFA Foundation

The Blue Jacket Legacy Program

Needs Your Support

This year marks the 8th anniversary of the Blue Jacket Legacy Program, and we are thrilled to share that student applications have reached an all-time high! Thanks to the generosity of our donors over the years, nearly 1,000 Arizona FFA members have received a Blue Jacket, symbolizing pride, belonging, and opportunity. With your support, we are ready to surpass that milestone this year.

Right now, we need help to provide just over 100 additional jackets to students from more than 350 applications received. Each jacket costs just $80, but its impact lasts a lifetime.

When you sponsor a jacket, you’re doing more than giving clothing, you’re sending a message to a student that you believe in their potential. Each jacket includes a special patch inside the front pocket, reminding the student that someone cares about their future and their success in FFA.

Join us this month in helping more Arizona FFA members step confidently into leadership, learning, and opportunity. Sponsor a jacket today and make a lasting difference in a student’s life!

Tracy Johnson Endowment Nears Its Goal

Help Us Cross the Finish Line!

In April we lost a friend an supporter of FFA, Tracy Keith Johnson. We are $1,690 away from reaching the goal of $15,000 to establish a scholarship endowment in Tracy's memory.

Tracy passed on April 7, 2025, in the comfort of his own home in Buckeye, Arizona. He spent his life deeply committed to agriculture and the community. He was a much-loved husband, father, brother, and son.

Throughout his life, Tracy was a passionate agriculturist and farmer. He worked on farms in central Arizona since his legs were long enough to reach the tractor pedals, and long before air-conditioned tractor cabs. He started driving a tractor alongside his dad and brother while working for family friends, the Vanosdell’s. Then transitioned to Paloma Ranch (Prudential Insurance Company), Bickman Farms, Lakin Milling, and Lakin Cattle Company. He worked for the Lakin family for the last 30 years. He farmed a variety of crops including roses, vegetables, cotton, alfalfa, Bermuda grass, wheat, and corn. Tracy’s favorite thing in life was to plant a seed, irrigate, fertilize, watch it grow, and then harvest the crop. You wouldn’t catch Tracy in the field without one of his four-legged companions. He had a deep love for hairy Australian shepherds (Shasta, Harley, Pistol and Pearl) who were a fan favorite at the parts stores, banks, tire stores, and most other places he went.

Tracy’s passion for service led him to volunteer on multiple boards throughout the years where he made lasting contributions to the community. He was a respected member of the University of Arizona Maricopa Agricultural Center Advisory Committee, Maricopa County Fair Board, Maricopa County Cooperative Extension Board, Maricopa County 4-H Large Livestock Board, Arizona Forage Producers, and Maricopa County Farm Bureau Board. Through his dedication, he worked hard to improve the lives of others and support the agricultural community.

Donations be made to the Arizona FFA Foundation for an Endowment Scholarship in Tracy’s name. Donations can be sent to: Arizona FFA Foundation, In Memory of Tracy Johnson, PO Box 5310, Glendale, AZ 85312 or you may use the online link https://secure.qgiv.com/for/seedsfortomorrow.

Any contribution is greatly appreciated to help reach the goal that will provide a FFA scholarship.

Start shopping early this year! Give the perfect gift while supporting AZ FFA Foundation & Agricultural Education! Socks are 100% COTTON! Available from November 1 - December 5th while supplies last! There are several themes including FFA, 4H and many other designs to check out when you click the link or QR code. Visit https://bit.ly/2025AZFFAFoundationSockStore to secure your gifts today!

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.