FFA National Convention ’empowers’ students

Members of the MAHS FFA Chapter recently attended the 98th Annual National FFA Convention held in Indianapolis, Indiana. This year’s theme was “Empower” and students enjoyed a convention that was informative, fun and truly inspirational.

Members in attendance included Carrie Jo Engle, Natalie Trowbridge, Ryleigh Troutman, Skylar Walker, Paige Wilt, Aidan Mosholder and Addison Kennell. They were among the more than 70,000 FFA members in attendance. Their experience was not limited to the convention, members enjoyed a tour of the Dickinson Cattle Company, in Ohio, on their way to Indianapolis. Once they arrived at the convention, they participated in several workshops, sessions and on-site and off-site activities and tours.

Following the convention opening ceremony at Lucas Oil Stadium, students attended several workshops and events. The opening speaker was A’Ric Jackson. Jackson is a national motivation speaker who focuses on sharing his personal message with our nation’s youth and encouraging them to lead boldly! The keynote speaker for the convention was Coach Kiah. Coach Kiah is a California cattle rancher turned life coach and speaker, passionate about empowering women to create a physically, mentally and emotionally healthy life they love with a mindset-first approach. A sixth-generation cattle rancher, Coach Kiah has a true and abiding appreciation for rural America, the agriculture community, and the western way of life.

Their itinerary also included a concert with Ella Langley and special guest ERNEST Gainbridge Fieldhouse; a tour of Fair Oaks Farm; and a tour of Purdue University.

Doreen Jamison, FFA Advisor, said the annual trip is both educational and fun for the students, offering an experience that both enriches and enhances their FFA experience. “The trip to the National FFA Convention provides FFA members with the chance to explore areas outside of Somerset County and see different ways that agriculture is growing in our country.”

Paige Wilt called the trip amazing and said the experience far exceeded her expectations. “We got to socialize and meet people from other states and learn about them, which was actually one of my favorite parts of the trip. One of the things I enjoyed the most was the Ella Langley and ERNEST concert. Out of the three tours that we took, my favorite was the first one, the Dickinson Cattle Company tour, where we got to ride on buses and tour the property and see the longhorns.

For Senior Natalie Trowbridge, this was an experience she will never forget. “At the national convention, we participated in many tours and group activities to educate ourselves about agriculture and future developments in the industries. I loved touring the Dickinson Cattle Company and feeding the longhorns! We went go-cart racing at Rascals Fun Zone, went to workshops to better our leadership skills, had an amazing shopping spree, and learned a lot about Purdue University and Fairview Farm,” she explained. “And, I will never forget the AMAZING concert with Ella Langley and ERNEST which was the best part of the whole trip!”