National Convention: the pinnacle of the FFA experience
By Mandy Kay, Ag Weekly correspondent
Friday, November 21, 2008 1:59 PM CST
INDIANAPOLIS - Hundreds of Idaho FFA members gathered at this year’s National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. The convention is the highlight of the year for FFA members, evidenced by 40,000 plus students filling the convention arena with enthusiasm and excitement.
Formerly Future Farmers of America, the organization changed its name in 1988 to reflect a diversity that goes beyond agriculture.
“It’s not just for people that grew up on a farm or a ranch, it takes every aspect of life and opens up so many doors that you can use in any career,” said Emma Jones, Kimberly High School senior.
Jones has been involved in FFA since her freshman year thanks to the encouragement of her advisor Cody Porath, who originally got her interested. Porath, who has been involved in FFA for 19 years, gets motivated through the keynote speakers at the convention. As a teacher, he loves to see the impact the convention has on students, the opportunities they are given and how they react to them.
“The opportunities are out there for everyone, it’s so diverse and people get so stereotypical,” he said. “The career show is also beneficial to the students through colleges and technical schools.”
Geared for success
FFA advisors and members agree the keynote speakers are a favorite at the national convention. Jones explains that the speakers taught her the importance of taking more risks and being true to herself as she took steps toward success in her own life. The only thing Jones could think of changing about this year’s convention was to have more attendance. There were only about 45,000 people that attended the first session this year.
Senior Aaron Tenney of Twin Falls said he was intrigued by the show.
“You will see John Deere, New Holland, Caterpillar and basically every ag college imaginable,” he said.
The show is packed with booths representing agribusinesses, universities and colleges.
The convention also provides opportunities for leadership development, personal growth and future success for today’s students, along with curriculums and new teaching methods for teachers to increase student involvement.
“During the conventions, speakers talk about veterinarian information and different aspects of it, it offer improving techniques that help you grow as an individual,” Tenney said.
Tenney views FFA as being a big part of his future plans of veterinary school at Washington State University, and he also plans on running for state office during the spring as well as hopefully competing at the Idaho State Career Development Event in Moscow next year. As a child, Tenney began developing an interest in FFA through watching his family’s long involvement in the convention, and he strongly urges anyone interested in agriculture to get involved.
Pigs to personal growth
Senior Jared Mumm of Kimberly was also reared in an environment that surrounded him with different aspects of agriculture. His first venture within FFA was showing pigs he had raised at a county fair, but he quickly realized there was so much more to FFA than originally met his eye, such as the values it imparts. As Mumm became more and more active in the national conventions, he became impressed with the diverse membership that would surprise most people.
Advisors and members from all 50 states plus Puerto Rico come together under one roof for these conventions.
“At one time, there were 48,702 people all in one place, all wearing blue jackets,” Mumm said.
Mumm’s favorite experience throughout his four years of participating in FFA was hearing keynote speaker and former comedian Mark Scharenbroich in the second session this year as he gave his motivational advice toward reaching success.
“One of the quotes during his speech was, ‘Don’t count crayons, draw pictures!’” Mumm said.
Not only do the speakers influence students with lifelong lessons, but attending the convention also brings students new acquaintances and better personal and people skills.
“In my life, it has been a lot easier for me to get things done at my farm, I’ve gained problem-solving skills and independence,” Mumm said.
Crowning glory
According to many individuals who have taken part in the convention, it’s said to be the most fun anybody could have, the experiences are truly amazing and participants meet people from all over the nation.
Now a senior at Kimberly, Cody Wadsworth, who has been a member of FFA since freshman year, strongly agrees.
“Excitement, unity and something that brings people together” is how he explains it.
Wadsworth chose opening-session motivational speaker Dana Hee as a personal favorite of his at this year’s convention. She is an Olympic gold medalist, award-winning Hollywood stuntwoman and a life survivalist, as well as a living example of how to overcome obstacles and turn dreams into reality, he said.
Wadsworth’s friend Jaysa Crist, who is graduating from college this year in pursuit of making her own dreams come true in the field of agriculture, is the reason for Wadsworth’s involvement in FFA. Wadsworth took his friend’s word that the convention would be well worth his time, and now, thanks to her motivation and encouragement, he plans to achieve collegiate level in FFA.
Another motivator in Wadsworth’s life is advisor Heather Hopkins. Hopkins first became interested in FFA in high school and chose to major in Agriculture Education in college. As an advisor of 13 years, Hopkins still learns new things through the conventions.
“Talking to different businesses, gaining knowledge of the products they offer and bringing back that information to share with the class,” said Hopkins as she talks about her favorite aspects of the FFA National Conventions. “It’s not just about cows and plows like most people think … . It’s also great for public speaker knowledge.”
Much more
In addition to motivational sessions, workshops and career shows, the FFA National Convention offers: “national days of service,” which is an online opportunity for members to volunteer at unique agencies and organizations that serve the community; career development events that offer members information and tours on agriculture mechanics, agronomy, dairy cattle evaluation, food science and technology, nursery/landscape, and much more.
Other popular attractions the national convention brings to FFA members are concerts and entertainment. Along with numerous other concerts and events, CMA Award-winning and Grammy-nominated “Best New Artist” Taylor Swift performed this year at the Lucas Oil Stadium with country musician James Otto, while the Bulls and Broncs Championship Rodeo occurred at the Pepsi Coliseum.
“It was a great experience all around, of which consisted of over 300 members from Idaho,” said Allison Touchstone, state advisor.
This year’s convention was held Oct 22 through 25, while the upcoming state convention will take place April 9 through 11.
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