Our 2025 Scholarship Recipient

Valeria Beltran, a junior from Gonzales High School, is our 2025 Salinas Valley Fair Heritage Scholarship Winner! She is a member of Gonzales FFA and is raising a pig as this year's SVF Heritage animal; Zero. 

Valeria is ecstatic to be this year's scholarship recipient. “I have the opportunity to learn more about the industry I love, while doing what I love, with people I love & getting the chance to one day, pursue a higher education through the assistance of this foundation.” Valeria plans on studying Agricultural Business at Cal Poly SLO in the fall of 2026. The $2500 scholarship will help her in accomplishing this goal. 

FFA has shaped Valerias’ life in many positive ways. “I got involved in the FFA by former student role models my freshman year. They encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and participate in my first ever competition Opening & Closing. It definitely sparked a passion in me where I continued involving myself in every other public speaking competition and conferences since. I found myself in this organization, leading me to most of my favorite memories with my favorite people. I’ve also held several leadership positions in this organization like past Gonzales FFA Reporter, current Vice President & Treasurer for the Monterey Bay Section FFA.” The FFA organization has allowed Valeria to become a confident young lady, forming long lasting friendships and relationships throughout California due to her outstanding involvement in this organization. Advice Valeria would give to young people looking to get involved in the FFA is to give something new a shot. “Go for it and don’t look back. You never know what can happen, there's something for everyone here and that's what’s so incredibly rewarding within this organization.” She stated. 

Valeria is looking forward to this year's Salinas Valley Fair. She said “This will be my first Salinas Valley Fair, which is so exciting. I get to share this opportunity with my mentors, friends & family, specifically my cousin Isaac Cuevas who is raising his last market hog. It’s bittersweet getting to share this experience with him knowing one day we’ll be looking back at these memories.” Valeria is also extremely grateful for the SVFHF & all of the work they contribute to making their facilities enjoyable and fun during the fair.