JCHS FFA Attends National Convention

By JOHN SCRUGGS

The 90th annual FFA National Convention was held in Indianapolis, Indiana last Wednesday through Saturday. The Jasper County FFA officers attended as did over 59,000 other student representatives from FFA chapters across the country.

After arrival, check-in at the hotel, and registration on Wednesday, students were shuttled to the Indiana State Fairgrounds where they enjoyed Cinch’s World’s Toughest Rodeo. Bareback, saddle bronc, and bull riding are the only three events in this series, and it did not disappoint.

The keynote speaker during the opening session on Thursday morning was Laila Ali, and she spoke to the students about finding their passion, setting goals, and perseverance.

On Friday, students went to Reynolds Farm Equipment, which is a large John Deere dealership north of Indianapolis. They gave us a tour of their facility, allowed students to drive a Gator that was set up with autopilot, and they hosted a very informative roundtable session. The session taught students about the wide range of Agricultural career diversity and how Agriculture is constantly evolving. In addition, students saw how modern technology is used to improve soil, monitor and change seed rates, and track crop yields from season to season.

Every year the Jasper County FFA Alumni Association hosts the tractor pull in Shady Dale and the chicken que. Whether you purchased a BBQ ticket, an ad, or sponsored the Tractor Pull, all of the proceeds from your investments in the FFA send our students to National Convention, provide scholarships, and help pay for Summer Leadership Camp. Please continue to support our FFA students and alumni association, for without you, this amazing opportunity would not be possible.

National Convention attendees pictured (left to right) are Tyler Mason, Chad Bentley, Jesse Burton, Rachel Dorsey, Savannah Doughtery, and Andrew Lentini.