The 2024–25 Ag Friends Officer Team, from left to right: Caroline Hileman, Rosemary Cummings, Julianne Hill, Liz Smith, Ashley Brackett, Elisa Guerrero, Melissa Quaresma, Sarah Watkins and Scott Wonnell.
The Heart Behind Nipomo FFA
FFA is more than just an extracurricular activity at Nipomo High; it’s where students grow, take opportunities and find their confidence. Behind the scenes of this growth is a group of parents and community members who help make it happen: the Nipomo FFA Ag Friends Booster Club.
Ag Friends is made up of volunteers who care deeply about agricultural education and supporting FFA members. Their main goal is to make sure every FFA member at Nipomo High School has the chance to succeed, whether that’s through funding trips, providing classrooms with tools, helping with projects or awarding academic and volunteer scholarships.
How It Started
Caroline Hileman has been crucial to Ag Friends throughout the past few years. She served as president from 2022 to 2024, and now runs the group’s social media as the reporter. Her daughter, Caitlyn, is a senior at Nipomo High School; watching her grow through FFA got Hileman involved.
“We came from a local 4-H group, so we already knew how great these programs can be,” she says. “Once Caitlyn joined FFA, she was excited to dive right into everything it had to offer. By watching her try new things, grow in confidence and thrive, it became evident that I wanted to support this program.”
What started as attending meetings turned into something bigger. Hileman joined the board during Caitlyn’s sophomore year, and has been part of the team ever since.
Although many know the Ag Friends for their Ag Friends Benefit Dinner event, it also host two annual barbecue drive-thru events, where community members can grab a meal, which is cooked by a local barbecue crew and served by FFA members, while helping the program.
“All of our events take a lot of teamwork,” Hileman say. “We plan months in advance, and it takes students, parents, teachers and community partners working side by side.”
Students in agricultural mechanics classes also put in countless hours creating high-quality projects for the auction at the Ag Friends Benefit Dinner. Families and members help with everything from set-up and running a silent auction to organizing a dessert auction and serving food. The events aren’t just fundraisers; they’re celebrations of everything the chapter stands for.
Thanks to the money raised at these events, Nipomo FFA members have more chances to travel to competitions in California, attend leadership conferences and use high-quality equipment in their classrooms. The money raised also helps fund scholarships for seniors.
“When new students see how supported our program is, they get excited to join,” Hileman says. “When parents see how much Ag Friends helps, they feel good about getting their kids involved.”
FFA helps students build real-world skills, such as public speaking, teamwork, responsibility and time management. Even those who don’t come from an agricultural background learn how to take on responsibility and grow as leaders.
Looking Toward the Future
Hileman believes the relationship between Nipomo FFA and the community is only getting stronger.
“When local businesses donate or sponsor events, families notice and they support those businesses right back. It creates a strong bond,” she says
When asked about her advice for students considering joining FFA, she said, “Just try it. You never know what you might enjoy or where it could take you. FFA isn’t just about farming, it’s about becoming a better version of yourself.”
Thanks to Ag Friends, more students get that chance every year. Its impacts affect the chapter’s FFA members and their families for many years.
