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Fireworks booth sales helping fund FFA involving 1 out of 4 Ripon High students
rhs ag fireworks
From left, Ripon High ag teacher Danielle Hyatt along with former students Nicole Powell and Kaitlyn Avila, and Ag advisor Ryan Patterson work the Phantom Fireworks booth Wednesday benefiting the RHS FFA program.

Students of the Ripon High chapter of Future Farmers of America recently took part in San Joaquin AgFest.

But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they had to upload their projects for the virtual show and sale. That part was easier said than done, according to RHS FFA advisor Ryan Patterson.

“We had to videotape our farm animals in just the right light,” he said on Wednesday.

The end result paid off.

“The community stepped up in supporting the kids,” Patterson said.

He’s hoping for much of the same with the Phantom Fireworks booth in the Schemper’s Ace Hardware parking lot on the corner of West Main Street and North Wilma Avenue.

This is one of two major fundraisers for the RHS FFA – Patterson indicated that the other being the Cows, Carbs & Cocktail event scheduled in the fall.

So far, so good as the FFA fireworks booth has enjoyed steady sales since opening Sunday.

Proceeds will go towards scholarships and help pay students way to the leadership conference and other events.

“Our goal is to provide (FFA students) with opportunities where money might be an object,” Patterson said.

The Ripon FFA fireworks booth is open today beginning at 11 a.m., 9 a.m. on Friday, and 9 a.m. on the Fourth of July on Saturday.

Patterson noted that 215 students at RHS are involved in ag. “That’s 25 percent of the high school (population),” he added.