National FFA Week sealed with a kiss: ‘More the merrier’
Manteca High teacher Anna Wooten raised the most money during the Kiss a Farm Animal event during National FFA Week. Her reward: a chance to smooch a goat.
By LILY VILLA GARCIA
The Tower
And your winners of the Kiss a Farm Animal fundraiser were …
Fatima Ridoloso and Anna Wooten.
All eyes were fixated on the four-legged creature heading down the breezeway toward the Manteca High quad.
Behind the plush goat stood Ridoloso, a popular Spanish teacher and some of her students. Overfilled with joy, they pulled out their phones, ready to record the kiss.
This accomplishment wouldn’t have been possible without Daniela Suarez, a student of Ridoloso’s, who begged students to donate any spare change to the jar. Despite being nervous, Ridoloso succumbed to her destiny of kissing the goat and shared a laugh with everyone afterwards.
“I now have stories to share with my future classes,” said Ridoloso. “I kissed a baby goat because either my students hate me or love me and voted for me.”
Manteca High teacher Fatima Ridoloso shares a laugh with students before kissing the goat during a lunchtime activity to celebrate National FFA Week. Ridoloso raised the second-most money during the Kiss a Farm Animal fundraiser. (Alyssa Fuentes)
Kiss a Farm Animal was one of several events planned by Manteca High’s accomplished Ag Department and Future Farmers of America program. FFA stands to educate and spread literacy about agriculture and what the youth are doing in their program for their community.
Every year, FFA chapters across the country celebrate National FFA Week. Locally, the Kiss a Farm Animal competition creates quite a buzz on campus. The rules are simple: the teacher with the most donations in their classroom by Feb. 21 were picked to kiss a farm animal.
There were two winners that collected their “prize” during lunch on Feb. 22. Ridoloso’s smooch took place during first lunch, while Wooten, a special education teacher, edged Adam Liel for second lunch.
In contrast to Ridoloso, Wooten was overjoyed to win the opportunity to kiss the goat. She sat down next to the goat and leaned willingly into the kiss. Her excitement was derived from a love for animals.
“It’s a bucket list item,” she said. “I also want the bragging rights. I want to add that to my resume you know, because in case teaching doesn’t work out, I have another job lined up. I think that it looks very impressive that I kissed a baby animal.”
In total, Ag teacher and event organizer Heather Nolan said the contest raised $221.43 to give back to the Delta Humane Society. Wooten raised $111.80, more than half of the total revenue.
A goat from the school farm made its rounds on campus at Manteca High on Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023. The goat was on the receiving end of two kisses during the Kiss a Farm Animal event: One from Fatima Ridoloso and another from Anna Wooten. (Alyssa Fuentes)
All proceeds from this event are going toward The Delta Humane Society animal shelter in Stockton. This money used to organize pet drives and pet food drives to bring awareness to these fuzzy friends looking for a home. This event is an opportunity for students to volunteer, meet new friends, and advertise the shelter to find these animals a home.
After spring break, Wooten plans to take her class to the shelter to create posters and help in these drives. As a class, they plan to create an Instagram post to advertise the shelter and the animals that need a home.
“I am also an animal dog lover,” Wooten said. “I have two dogs, so to be able to raise money for the Delta Humane Society to help dogs, cats, and animals, in general, is such a sweet thing.”
The Kiss a Farm Animal started as a fun event that has transitioned into a tradition on campus. Every year, Nolan and the Ag department try to convince more teachers to volunteer in the contest.
Over the years, it has gained popularity because it brings a great laugh. After all, who doesn’t want to see their favorite or least favorite teacher kiss a four-legged creature?
“The more the merrier,” Nolan said of the teacher support. “We appreciate everyone who brings in the donations. Even if it’s a penny, it matters.”