Indianapolis, IN ~ The 91st National FFA Convention and Expo celebrated its second year of a nine-year commitment in the Indianapolis last week during October 23rd through the 26th. More than 68,000 FFA members and guest from throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were in attendance at this year’s event.
The Central Plains FFA had eight members and their advisor attend this year’s convention. The chapter traveled in two chartered buses with twelve other FFA Chapter from North Central Iowa. Attending this year was: Allison Bethel, Breyton Cline, Chloe Hicks, Chyann Hicks, Hailey Tuel, Carson Lambert, Blake Peterson and Mr. Kehoe.
The group was able to tour the Red Brand Fencing Manufacturing, Indianapolis 500 Speedway, NCAA Hall of Fame, and Fairy Oaks Dairy Farm.
The convention and expo kicked off with the National FFA Band leading a grand march down Georgia Street in downtown Indianapolis on Wednesday, October 25th. Eight general sessions were held in Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
The Iowa group attended the Opening Session of the Convention on Wednesday evening with keynote speaker Kyle Scheele, author, speaker, cardboarder and better-world builder.. The chapter also attended the second day of the FFA Talent Search Session and listened to the “Stars” over America ceremony.
The one workshop the members attended Thursday morning was titled “Career 101”. That was an hour and half workshop discussing career opportunities in agriculture.
The Iowa FFA Association was represented by over 3,000 attendees involved in all facets of the four day event. Erica Baier of Earlham, Iowa and a student at Iowa State University gave her retiring address at the Seventh General Session titled “Fighter”.
The Iowa FFA Association is a youth organization of over 15,300 student members as part of 242 local FFA chapters across Iowa. The FFA Mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
For more pictures check out the school website or the chapter’s Facebook page (Gowrie Central-Plains).
