News | Santa Maria Joint Union High School District

Josh Mendez of the Santa Maria High School FFA program was the top showman at the Santa Barbara County Fair.

Mendez won Round Robin Showmanship, showed the Supreme Champion Meat Goat and the FFA Reserve Champion Market Sheep. The Santa Maria fair ended last weekend.

Mendez was among hundreds of Santa Maria Joint Union High School District FFA members that took home awards. SMJUHSD has several hundred FFA members at Santa Maria, Pioneer and Ernest Righetti High Schools.

Mendez knows the hard work was worth it for all the right reasons. "It came full circle,'' said Mendez, who will be a junior next year. "Belt buckles may tarnish and ribbons may fade, but the friends that I have made in the FFA are the most important things to me.''

Along with the livestock recognitions, the district FFAers also won awards in feature, flower, vegetable, metal arts, carpentry and many other displays and booths.

Adrian Herrera of PVHS showed the Grand Champion FFA Rabbit Meat Pen, with the reserve award in that competition going to Richard Osorio of SMHS. Susana Ayala Motta of SMHS showed the Grand Champion FFA Turkey Meat Pen, with the reserve award in that class going to Haleigh Jones of ERHS.

The Round Robin required Mendez and other young exhibitors to show species of swine, beef, sheep, goats and dairy goats.

SMHS Advisor Marc Debernardi said all the FFAers took many life-long skills to heart while having fun learning how to working together and being responsible for someone other than themselves.

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY: The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District is committed to ensuring equal, fair, and meaningful access to employment and education services. The SMJUHSD does not discriminate in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity on the basis and/or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics of age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, ethnic group identifications, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, marital, family or parental status, medical condition, military or veteran status, nationality, national origin, immigration status, political affiliation, pregnancy and related conditions, race, religion, retaliation, sex (including sexual harassment), sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by California state and federal nondiscrimination laws respectively. Not all bases of discrimination will apply to both education services and employment. If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, immediately contact the District’s Discrimination, Equity and Title IX Compliance Officer Mr. Kevin R. Platt at 2560 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria, CA 93455, (805) 922-4573 or kplatt@smjuhsd.org. You may request a copy of SMJUHSD’s Uniform Complaint Procedures, Non-Discrimination Policies, Sexual Harassment Policies or click here.