FFA Members Attend National Convention
Launch the media gallery 1 playerOn October 22-25, 19 members of the Leigh FFA Chapter traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 97th National FFA Convention and Expo. At the convention, over 1 million FFA members attended, setting a new record for attendance.
“The National FFA Convention was such a great learning experience for our members. We did some very unique tours in different career pathways. Our members were exposed to different parts of our country and learned about the agriculture industry in the eastern region,“ FFA Advisor Mrs. Alyssa Went said.
Attendees had the opportunity to visit several different states such as Iowa, Illinois, Indianapolis, and Kentucky. On the way to Indianapolis, attendees went on educational tours throughout the trip.
On the first day of the chapter's embarkment, members toured Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens and went to the World's Largest Truckstop. At Greater Des Moines Botanical Gardens, members learned about different tropical plants and ecosystems created within the garden's dome. Attendees also toured Hummel Livestock in Illinois. Members learned about different breeding systems with domestic and exotic cats and also had the opportunity to see exotic animals and the Hummel’s livestock business containing goats and cattle.
The next day the chapter traveled to Indianapolis, touring Tuttle Orchards. Attendees toured the Tuttle’s apple orchard as well as the processing facility for their distribution of apples and learned about the marketing aspects of their business while sampling seven different varieties of their homegrown apples. Wrapping up the ending to the second day, the chapter concluded the day by attending the Megan Moroney concert with FFA members from all over the United States.
Before the chapter went home, on the third day, members got to experience visiting the Convention Center and Expo, where they got to go shopping and talk to different businesses and colleges. Concluding tours, Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky, was the final tour destination where members visited the Churchill Downs racing facility and learned history about the Kentucky Derby.
On Friday morning, the chapter headed back to Nebraska, stopping one last time at the “World's Largest Truck Stop” in Iowa.
The Leigh FFA chapter tries to make the trip to National Convention every other year for interested members.
Sophomore Grace Hansen said, "I thought attending the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis was a really great experience. It was fun getting to tour the different facilities and businesses we traveled to and I can't wait to go back to my senior year.”