FFA student on what iconic blue jacket means to her

By Kayce Van Horn

I have been proudly wearing blue and gold for four years. During this time, I have had countless opportunities, including career and leadership development events, supervised agriculture events and interactions with members across the country. I would not have had these opportunities or even been successful without my FFA jacket that I received from the Blue Jacket Bonanza Program. When I put my FFA jacket on and zip it up, I am almost instantly filled with confidence, motivation and passion. (See related story.)

Confidence is a huge part of my journey in the jacket. When I was a little girl, my parents would get calls from my teachers saying that I would not talk to my peers and answer their questions. Coming into high school, public speaking was a challenge, but when I put on the jacket, I gained the confidence I needed. 

I used this confidence in career-development events and became the state champion in vegetable judging and soil and land evaluation. Stepping into a brand-new contest where I knew little to nothing was a challenge, but I was willing to take on the challenge because I had confidence in myself to do whatever I set my mind to. 

Not only did I gain confidence while wearing the jacket, I started to gain that same confidence outside the jacket. 

By putting on my jacket during supervised agricultural projects, I learned about the importance of self-motivation. Whether I am working with livestock, preparing our student-run pumpkin patch or helping special education students show goats, I am always encountering challenges. Motivation is what gets me through those challenges.

The FFA jacket has not only taken me all around the country, but it has introduced me to many new faces. Whether it be at a chapter FFA meeting, a regional leadership conference or the National FFA Convention, it is in the blue jacket that I have the passion to meet new members and ultimately leave an impact on their lives, just like former members did for me.

My blue jacket is like a superhero cape, giving me the strength to be confident, motivated and passionate. Once I put it on, I am the best version of myself, and no one can take that away from me. 

(Kayce Van Horn is a senior at Santa Maria High School and serves as Santa Maria FFA chapter president and the South Coast regional reporter. She may be
contacted at kaycev07@gmail.com.)