One Creed, Many Voices: California FFA Makes History
By: Viviana Velazquez, Grass Valley - Bear Riv
er FFA and 2026 State FFA Conference Press Corps Member
For generations, the FFA Creed has been a cornerstone of the organization, with five paragraphs that define belief, leadership, and the future of agriculture. But at this year’s California FFA State Leadership Conference, the Creed took on a historic new form. For the first time during the conference’s opening session, students delivered each paragraph in a different language, bringing their identities, cultures, and personal journeys to the stage.
William Scheurer: English, First Paragraph
William Scheurer, a sophomore from the Las Plumas FFA chapter, has been growing his leadership skills through the Creed for over a year. From his first competition as a freshman to attending nationals as the 2025 California FFA state winner, William described the journey as transformative. “It was all about me growing my leadership skills,” he said. “Sharing the Creed on stage was such a great moment, being able to actually state my beliefs to 7,000 people.”
For William, performing in English alongside other languages emphasized the diversity and inclusion of California agriculture. “When we bring in those other languages, it shows the inclusion that we have here in the association,” he said. Standing on stage, he felt nervous at first, but once he held the microphone, his confidence soared. “I truly believe every word in every paragraph,” he said.
Jesus Garcia: Spanish, Second Paragraph
Jesus Garcia, a senior from Mira Monte FFA in Bakersfield, moved to the United States in fifth grade. Spanish was his first language, and adjusting to a new school and culture was a challenge. Living with his family, including his sister and brother-in-law, he faced moments of homesickness and uncertainty. “But overall, I feel like it was worth it,” he said. “FFA really helped me get more extroverted and find my place.”
Performing the Creed in Spanish allowed Jesus to honor his culture and share his personal story. “I decided to do it because it was a cool way to represent my culture, Hispanic people,” he said. Beyond the performance, he encouraged other students to take chances. “Just do it, it’s a really cool experience.”
Elijah Hernandez: American Sign Language, Third Paragraph
Elijah Hernandez, a junior from Highland FFA in Bakersfield, has been learning American Sign Language since his freshman year. As a student in one of Kern County’s strongest high school deaf programs, Elijah wanted to highlight deaf culture in an environment where most students are hearing. “I felt it was important for me to represent deaf culture,” he said.
On stage, he felt proud to share his skills and knowledge. “It was rewarding to present something meaningful to me while also representing my school and program,” he explained. For Elijah, the most important part of the experience was connecting with the audience through the meaning of the Creed, no matter the language.
Alexander Lopes: Portuguese, Fourth Paragraph
Alexander Lopes, a freshman from Pitman FFA in Turlock, presented the fourth paragraph in Portuguese. For him, the power of the Creed wasn’t just in memorization; it was in seeing how it could bring people together. “It was beautiful to see how the different languages of the Creed touched the hearts of not just the Portuguese members, but also the other FFA members from all different backgrounds coming together to celebrate heritage through agricultural practices,” he said. For Alexander, the stage was not intimidating. He felt excitement in representing his community and in showing that language and tradition can unite people.
Kailie Wells: Japanese, Fifth Paragraph
Kailie Wells, a sophomore from San Luis Obispo FFA, performed the final paragraph in Japanese. Spending summers and winters in Japan, she has always been connected to her native language. “Don’t let fear stop you from taking up opportunities that could lead to immeasurable growth,” she said. Standing on stage, she felt nervous, but as she spoke, those nerves gave way to pride. Performing in Japanese allowed Kailie to represent her heritage and her chapter, bringing her story to the larger FFA community.
Together, these five students transformed the FFA Creed into a celebration of identity, culture, and leadership. Each paragraph told a story, not just of agriculture or tradition, but of personal growth, resilience, and the courage to stand on stage and share one’s voice. For California FFA, this historic presentation was more than a performance; it was a reminder that the strength of agriculture lies in the diversity of the people who sustain it.
