[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 95 (Friday, June 8, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF MR. MATTHEW ROSA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 8, 2018

  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Matthew Rosa 
on his election as President of the California Future Farmers of 
America.
  Matthew Rosa was born on March 25, 2000, in Visalia, California to 
his parents, Noel and Holly Rosa. He attended local schools, most 
recently El Diamante High School in Visalia, California. During his 
high school tenure, Matthew served in many leadership posts in the El 
Diamante Chapter of Future Farmers of America (FFA), including Sentinel 
from 2015 through 2016, Vice President from 2016 through 2017, and 
President from 2017 through 2018. In the role of Chapter President, 
Matthew concurrently held the position of San Joaquin Region FFA 
President.
  Beyond FFA, Matthew is an avid golfer, playing for the El Diamante 
Miners golf team in his sophomore, junior, and senior years of high 
school. He served as a member of St. Mary's Youth Leadership Team from 
2015 through 2016 and is active in the Good Shepherd Catholic Parish of 
Visalia.
  During his participation in FFA, Matthew was a member of the winning 
FFA Cooperative Marketing Team in 2017 and earned a State Proficiency 
Award for Dairy Production Placement. In his academic pursuits, Matthew 
became a lifetime member of the California Scholarship Federation and 
was a two-time recipient of the Visalia Unified School District Board 
Student Achievement Award.
  In early 2018, Matthew was one of seventy-four members of 
California's extended FFA organization to apply to run for state 
office. After many interviews during the California FFA Convention in 
Anaheim, California, Matthew advanced among the twelve finalists to 
address the convention. Following voting, Matthew was declared the 
winning candidate for President of California FFA on April 25, 2018.
  As California State FFA President, Matthew will be tasked with the 
three primary tenets of FFA leadership: motivating members to achieve 
their highest potential, serve as a goodwill ambassador to the 
community at-large, and provide key direction and execute the various 
programs undertaken by FFA regions and chapters.
  Matthew's passion for farming is a reflection of his upbringing. As 
the son of a dairyman, Matthew has learned the lessons of hard work and 
dedication growing up at the Rosa Brothers Dairy and Creamery.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of 
Representatives to join me in commending Mr. Matthew Rosa on his 
election and wishing him well on his future service to the California 
Future Farmers of America.

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