The 2025 California State Champion Floriculture Team, Ripon Christian FFA, after the California FFA state competition.

After a surprising point recount, the Ripon Christian FFA Floriculture Team was declared the 2025 National FFA Floriculture Champion and made the golden state of California proud.

The Ripon Christian FFA Chapter’s National Champion Floriculture Team is made up of Laci Nydam, Lauren Mouw, Gracelyn Dyk and Geneva Vandenberg. The team’s motivation to devote themselves to this competition ranged from being inspired by key role models in the floral industry to the desire to establish friendships and the hope of deepening involvement in FFA. Although each team member had her own reasons for becoming involved, they all shared a competitive spirit and a passion for flowers.

The team after the National FFA competition with their completed floral design pieces. Pictured from left to right are Geneva Vandenberg, Laci Nydam, Lauren Mouw and Gracelyn Dyk.

What exactly goes on in the floriculture competition? Focusing on necessary skills for the floral industry, the competition consists of different parts: general knowledge, identification, floral design judging and giving oral reasons, and a construction portion where members create their own arrangements. For the Ripon Christian FFA team, this competition required waking up for early Saturday mornings, long van rides and rigorous practice.

During the summer of 2025, the team had begun preparing for the National FFA competition. These practices included plant and tool identification, general knowledge practice tests, hands-on activities, rehearsed growing procedures, a focus on floral design and different scenarios that could be possible for the team activity portion. This team has put in over 100 hours into preparing for the floriculture competition.

In preparation for the National FFA competition, the girls practice plant identification in a local nursery.

The day of the national competition carried unique emotions. “It was hard to believe that this was it — what we had been studying for months was now time to put it to the test,” Nydam says. “It was also crazy to see all the different state jackets around us and realize we were actually at nationals!” 

All of the dedication and anxiety paid off as the team discovered the results of the contest. “On stage, our team was actually labeled as the third highest team in the nation,” Dyk says. “But about a week later, we learned that due to a recount, our team had placed first in the nation. This was a shocking and incredibly exciting moment for me and the whole team, and I was just so proud to know that all of our hard work had paid off.”

Vandenberg highlighted their collaboration on the team activity and described how they received the full score of 800 points as a team, which is an amazing accomplishment.

The Ripon Christian Floriculture Team was recognized at the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo. Pictured from left to right are Laci Nydam, Geneva Vandenberg, Megan Dyk, Lauren Mouw and Gracelyn Dyk.

Powered by faith and friendships, Nydam and Dyk agree that they were encouraged by the Lord and trusted His plan throughout the competition process. Being a part of a faith-centered environment brought them together. “I deeply value the friendships that I have made throughout this experience,” Dyk adds. 

For members hoping to find success within the FFA, Dyk says, “Pour yourselves into everything you do because things like this truly are a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But, it’s also important to have fun, make friendships with your teammates and don’t take everything so seriously.”