Latta FFA member Jocelyn James (second from right) met two state officers and Puerto Rico FFA Association Executive Secretary Brendaliz Ferrer (second from left) during a visit to agriculture classes in Angeles, Puerto Rico. Photo courtesy of Seth Reeves.
Sometimes a chance meeting can kick-start a lasting friendship. When Latta FFA advisor Seth Reeves stepped out of a meeting during the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo in 2023 to take a phone call, he sat next to Inocencio Montero FFA advisor Juan Jiminez.
The two men began talking, and Reeves asked if Jocelyn James, one of his Oklahoma FFA members at the time, could interview a farmer in Puerto Rico for her podcast. Jiminez didn’t just say yes — he invited them to visit his chapter so James could conduct the interview in person.
Reeves, James and James’ mother traveled to Puerto Rico in March 2024, which then led four Inocencio Montero FFA members and two advisors to visit Oklahoma in April 2025.
The Latta FFA Chapter planned a jam-packed week for its visitors, which included taking them to a local sale barn, a veterinary clinic, the Chickasaw Cultural Center, a beef cattle operation and a diversified agriculture farm. The group also attended a regional speech competition and helped hand out awards, then visited the state capitol and met with House of Representatives members, Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur and the Oklahoma Legislative Latino Caucus.
Puerto Rico FFA members learned about Latta FFA member Reagan Jones’ equine-focused Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) project during their time in Oklahoma. Photo courtesy of Seth Reeves.
Finding Common Ground
Although agriculture in Puerto Rico looks a bit different from agriculture in Oklahoma, members from both places found that their FFA jackets united them.
“We share a similar work ethic, and a few of us are majoring in the same field in college,” says James, who is starting her studies at Oklahoma State University this fall. “Although we may have been raised in different environments, this didn’t hinder our ability to find connection and community with each other.”
The Inocencio Montero FFA Chapter gifted Reeves and James custom T-shirts made to commemorate their visit. Photo courtesy of Seth Reeves.
The advisors were also inspired by their travels. Jiminez marveled at the financial support Latta FFA receives from its school board and local government, and Reeves hopes to make better use of his school’s range land after seeing the Inocencio Montero FFA Chapter’s working school farms, where students receive hands-on training in agriculture.
The Oklahoma visit was such a success that the chapters decided to make it an annual event. Latta FFA plans to visit Puerto Rico during even years and Inocencio Montero FFA plans to visit Oklahoma during odd years. Jiminez is already planning for the 2026 trip, and Reeves is excited to travel again in 2027.
“I never thought I would go to Puerto Rico, but now I can’t wait to get back,” Reeves adds. “I hope we continue this exchange program until my retirement or beyond — and I have another 15 years before I can retire.”
Inocencio Montero FFA advisors Juan Jiminez and Nathalia Medina brought members and officers Joel Espara, Junely Rivera, Valeria Jiminez and Gerial Vega, on their trip to Oklahoma. Photo courtesy of Seth Reeves.
Broaden Your Horizons
Explore new cultures and agricultural practices by participating in the International Leadership Seminar for State Officers, which is sponsored by corporate partners Bunge and John Deere, or traveling with the National FFA Alumni and Supporters.
