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Conrad members attend National FFA Convention |
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Wednesday, 14 November 2007 |
By Joylynn Kauffman, AG-Education Instructor
 FFA in Indy-land – FFA members, not in order, spent the week attending convention activities and site-seeing around the city of Indianapolis: Karl Bjelland, Shannon Elings, Bryce Gernaat, Kelly Johns, Hannah Knobel, Kelsey Ostrom, Evan Pearson, David Ratzburg, and Jaren VanDyke, along with Advisor Joylynn Kauffman, chaperone Tim VanDyke, and MSU Collegiate FFA member Brooke Johns.
Karl Bjelland, Shannon Elings, Bryce Gernaat, Kelly Johns, Hannah Knobel, Kelsey Ostrom, Evan Pearson, David Ratzburg, and Jaren VanDyke, along with Advisor Joylynn Kauffman, chaperone Tim VanDyke, and MSU Collegiate FFA member Brooke Johns, spent the week attending Convention activities and sight-seeing around the city of Indianapolis.
With 500,832 FFA members in 7,358 chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, this year’s theme was quite appropriate. Blue Jackets, Bright Futures is a testament to what the largest youth organization in the United States offers its members.
With over 50,000 members and guests registered for the 80th National FFA Convention, it was the largest yet.
This year’s opening session included keynote speaker Dr. Rick Rigsby, with a motivational address encouraging FFA members to improve their character by holding on to the knowledge and experience of family members and chapter advisors.
One piece of advice from Dr. Rigsby is that “Good isn’t good if it can be better; better isn’t good if it can be best.”
Other sessions celebrated the achievements of individual members and chapters.
The Conrad FFA Chapter received the National Chapter Award, which recognizes excellence in leading student, chapter, and community activities.
Brooke Johns was awarded the American FFA Degree, the highest degree awarded by the National FFA Organization, which recognizes demonstrated leadership abilities and outstanding achievements in agricultural business, production, processing and service programs. (Kale Martin also received the American FFA Degree, but was unable to attend convention.)
Conrad FFA members joined more than 1,600 FFA members by putting civic learning and leadership into action during the National FFA Days of Service.
Working at the Maplelawn Farmstead, Inc; a living history and educational farmstead recently purchased to keep the land from being developed, FFA members painted barns, built a fence, and raked leaves.
Convention workshops, sessions, and the trade show provided ample opportunity for members to meet new people, including exchange students from Finland and Sweden.
Convention events were held in the Indiana Convention Center, the Conseco Fieldhouse, the RCA Dome, and at the Fairgrounds. In addition to attending convention activities, members had the opportunity to see the sights of Indianapolis, including the NCAA Hall of Champions, the Indiana State Museum, and the Indianapolis Speedway.
Oct. 22-29 was an intense week, but definitely one that won’t be forgotten quickly.
From flying for the first time to wandering through a haunted corn maze, these Conrad FFA members have stories to tell!
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