GoFFA Wild West Tour June 25-July 8, 2016
Professional Development Opportunity
The Munford FFA Chapter has organized a GoFFA Program in which we will be "Putting Culture in Agriculture". We want to increase the knowledge base of our teachers and student’s to what agriculture has to offer here in the United States. We will be taking a charter bus traveling to:
Winter Livestock Auction – Dodge City
Winter Livestock is one of the oldest cattle auctions in the nation. With four locations, Dodge City, KS, Pratt, KS, LaJunta, CO, and Riverton, WY, since 1936 they have merchandised cattle for the area's finest cattlemen. Their facilities are highly maintained and laid out with cattle care in mind. In addition, Winter Livestock operates their own feedlots and will be providing our group a tour of the nation’s feedlot region.
Boot Hill Museum – Dodge City
The tradition continues twice a day during the summer months when the World Famous Boot Hill Gunfighters face off on Front Street. During the summer season you will be entertained by a gang of rough and rowdy cowboys. Fist fights and gunfire portray what you might have witnessed on the streets of Dodge City in the 1870s. Cowboys had been on the trail for many weeks and when they finished their duties, they were ready to have some fun. However, conflict often arose and you never knew what to expect in the wild and wicked city of Dodge.
Fagerberg Produce – Eaton, Colorado
The eastern slope of the Colorado Rockies offers a climate that is especially suited to production of quality onions. The planting of Colorado Sweets seed onions begins in early spring while our transplanted onions are planted in November in Arizona, then harvested and shipped to Colorado for transplanting in April. With the help of the dry Colorado days and cool summer nights, they can provide you with a more natural product due to the fact that our climate reduces the need to apply pesticides and fungicides. During the month of September using mechanical equipment, 2.5 million pounds of onions are harvested and stored daily.
Double J Signature Cuts – Pierce, Colorado
More than 40 years ago, on rich ranchland in the shadows of the rugged Colorado Rockies, their family established Double J Farms with a commitment to humanely raise all-natural beef and lamb. In 2002 they expanded this commitment to process their animals and the herds of our neighboring ranchers utilizing the most modern, principled practices. The Double J family and their participating ranchers believe being true to the land and animals is not only the right thing, it also provides the best tasting and most nutritious beef and lamb.
Double J Lamb Feeders – Ault, Colorado
One of the largest lamb feed lots in America, Double J Lamb Feeders runs between 25,000 – 55,000 head differing in the summer months and winter months. Lambs are bought from varies ranches throughout Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah to maintain the operation.
Rock Springs Wild Horse Holding Facility – Rock Springs, Wyoming
Horses are available for adoption by appointment year-round by first come/first serve.
This is the only federal short-term holding and preparation facility in Wyoming. The facility houses approximately 700 wild horses, primarily gathered from Wyoming herd management areas (HMA). The facility also serves as a rest stop location for wild horses being transported eastbound from western states. A viewing kiosk overlooking the facility is also open year-round. Springtime is a popular time to come watch our new foals. Tours are conducted upon request.
Elko Land & Livestock Company (The TS Ranch) - Battle Mountain, Nevada
The historic T Lazy S Ranch, located in Northern Nevada, was founded in 1870 by Irish immigrant William Dunphy. Today it is owned by Elko Land and Livestock Company, a subsidiary of Newmont Mining Corporation, which is one of the largest gold mining companies in the world with over 1.5 million acres. In 2004, ELLCO acquired the neighboring Horseshoe Ranch. Both are old historic Nevada ranching operations, with the T Lazy S being the largest and most well-known of the two. The two operations have been blended together to form one large 6,000 head cattle ranching operation. In the western tradition of keeping things simple, these two combined operations are referred to as the "TS".
Winnemucca Farms, Inc. – Winnemucca, Nevada
Winnemucca Farms, Inc. is a thirty year old farming operation which is located 165 miles northeast of Reno on Interstate Highway 80. Winnemucca Farms, Inc. grows Potatoes, Wheat, Snap Peas, Alfalfa and Corn on over 16,000 acres. The high altitude, sandy loam soils, excellent water quality and climate allow us to produce quality crops.
Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort – Lake Tahoe, California
Nestled on the magnificent pristine beach of Lake Tahoe’s north shore, Mourelatos Lakeshore Resort offers a stunning lake-front lodging experience in Tahoe Vista, California, which is much more than just a place to stay. It’s a treasured spot where the spectacular views of Lake Tahoe from the 32 well-appointed and spacious studio suites are just the beginning of what you will experience from its convenient and central location.
The Big Bus Sightseeing Tour Showcases the Best Views in San Francisco
Sit back and enjoy the ride as you cruise through the city on an open-top bus and learn about San Francisco's unique history.You can hop-on and hop-off the bus to visit attractions before hopping back on-board to continue your journey. The tour's main highlight is the journey over the fabled Golden Gate Bridge and the stunning views back across San Francisco Bay from Vista Point some memorable moments of Chinatown, the Painted Ladies of Alamo Square, Lombardo Street, and many more.
Golden Gate Bay Cruise® in San Francisco
This boat tour is San Francisco’s original bay cruise adventure, sailing since 1939! Not only is it the original, it’s also the only San Francisco boat trip offered in 16 languages. Experience breathtaking views – from the comfort of the ship – of the waterfront, the majestic Golden Gate Bridge, and the notorious Alcatraz Island. You’ll learn about this city’s rich cultural history as you cruise past the area’s most famous landmarks.
Blue Diamond® Growers – Salida, California
Blue Diamond® Growers is the world's largest almond processing and marketing company. Founded in 1910, the cooperative is owned by half of the state's almond growers who produce over 80 percent of the world almond supply. Blue Diamond® led the development of California's almond industry from a minor domestic specialty crop to the world leader in almond production and marketing. Blue Diamond®, the world's leading almond brand, continues to build markets and create new products, new uses, and new opportunities for global consumers. The California almond crop is marketed to all 50 states and more than 90 foreign countries, making almonds California's largest food export, the sixth largest U.S. food export and the #1 specialty crop in America.
Hilmar Cheese Company – Hilmar, California
Hilmar Cheese Company serves customers in more than 50 countries from our two manufacturing facilities. Our founding headquarters is located in California's fertile Central Valley in Hilmar, and our state-of-the-art Dalhart, Texas facility is located in a growing dairy region. Annually produces more cheese and whey from one site (Hilmar, CA) than any other manufacturer in the world. Employs more than 1,200 people. Processes more than 21 million pounds of milk each day received from more than 230 dairies. Produces more than 2.4 million pounds of cheese each day.
Rosa Brothers Dairy – Hanford, California
Whether you're looking for a fun stop along your drive or a hands-on class field trip, Rosa Brothers Milk Company offers exciting farm tours that kids and grown-ups will enjoy! Learn where your milk comes from! From start to finish, learn about animal care, water management, proper cow diet, dairy cow milk production, the milking process and more. Plus, take a ride on our new Moo-Mobile, pet a baby calf and compete in a simulated milking contest. Most interesting tidbit is that their milk is still bottled in glass bottles. You can even bring them back to have them refilled!
Wonderful Citrus Global (Paramount Citrus Cooperative) – Delano, California
Wonderful Citrus’s history of growth and innovation has developed the company into the largest fresh citrus grower in the western United States. Lou Ghiz founded Paramount Citrus in 1950 with the objective of giving independent orange growers an opportunity to market the juice as well as the fruit outside of the Sunkist Cooperative. Today Wonderful Citrus owns over 18 brands of citrus!
Movie Stars Homes & City Highlights Tours – Los Angeles, California
We'll take you to L.A.'s most glamorous neighborhoods including Hollywood, Bel Air, the Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Hollywood Hills, Westwood Village home to the UCLA Bruins. You'll also see some of our most celebrated beaches, Beaches, the Pacific Ocean, Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica 3rd St Promenade and much, much more! We will finish your tour on top of L.A.s most scenic drive, Mulholland Drive. It also has the most spectacular view of the Hollywood Sign. After all, no trip to L.A. is complete without a photo op with this iconic image – a sign of what it means to truly dream big – in the background.
Americafest at the Rose Bowl – Pasadena, California
Billed as the largest fireworks show in Los Angeles, join thousands of fellow Angeleno’s as they celebrate the 4th of July at Americafest at the Rose Bowl. Beginning at 2pm and ending at 10pm, the 89th Annual Fourth of July Celebration at The Rose Bowl, will feature special musical performances, motorcycle stunts, a presentation of the colors and the national anthem, as well as the largest fireworks show in Southern California produced by Pyrospectaculars by Souza. The fireworks show will begin at 9pm.
Grand Canyon South Rim – Grand Canyon, Arizona
You've always wanted to visit the Grand Canyon, but the Grand Canyon is over 277 miles long. It is much larger than you might have originally imagined it to be. The South Rim of the Grand Canyon is the most visited location at Grand Canyon National Park. The Scenic views and vista's are what you are expecting and have been waiting a lifetime to see. The South Rim is open year around and accessible by all.
Sichler Farms – Albuquerque, New Mexico
Fresh. Local. Quality. Service. These are just a few of the themes that have defined the Sichler family farming tradition since its inception in 1869 - and continue to form the cornerstone of the Sichler Farms mission and vision today. At Sichler Farms, we know that New Mexicans are passionate about chile. Our state's love affair with this unique food is woven through the fabric of our region's cuisine and its very culture. That's why Sichler Farms has been committed for four generations to providing our customers with the freshest, highest-quality chile peppers available - and with personal, attentive service that ensures they return to our store year after year.
National Cowboy Western & Heritage Museum – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
The National Cowboy Western & Heritage Museum is America’s premier institution of Western history, art and culture. Founded in 1955, the museum in Oklahoma City collects, preserves and exhibits a collection of Western art and artifacts while sponsoring dynamic educational programs to stimulate interest in the enduring legacy of our American West. More than 10 million visitors from around the world have sought out this unique museum to gain better understanding of the West: a region and a history that permeates our national culture.
Please feel free to look over the itinerary on the Munford FFA Chapter Website at http://munfordffa.ffanow.org if you have any questions please feel free to call me. This will be the fifth trip we have organized for group travel and I certainly want it to be a successful professional development opportunity.
Cost of the Educational Opportunity…Is determined by the number of people that enroll.
Enrollment fee is $250 per person. Enrollment period ends September 15, 2015.
(30 Participant’s) Student Package - $1850 per student in a four person room Teacher Package - $2350 per teacher/adult in a two person room
(50 Participant’s) Student Package - $1650 per student in a four person room Teacher Package - $2150 per teacher/adult in a two person room
Includes bus transportation, hotels, tickets to all events & tours, breakfast and one other meal per day.
Please make checks payable to: Let's GoFFA...
Munford FFA Alumni Ann Johnson
1080 McLaughlin Drive GoFFA Coordinator
Munford, TN 38058 901-482-5951