Twelve members of the Bowling Green FFA chapter were selected to travel to Indianapolis to attend the 97th Annual National FFA Convention and Expo last month. The members chosen were seniors Addie Naus, Annie Urban, Natalee Harris, Clare Tussing as well as juniors Casey Naus, Gavin Roessner, Angela Ducat, Kiersten Hendricks and sophomores Orlando Alvarez, Konner Chambers, Isabella Belleville, and Kelsey Kline. BG FFA traveled to the event with Oak Harbor FFA, Genoa FFA and Otsego FFA.
On the way to Indianapolis, the chapter stopped at Tuttle Orchards, where they toured the facility. Members learned about the processes of how the orchards make various apple products. They heard the owner of the orchards explain how price value-added pricing works with the different products. After the tour, members attended the Career and College Expo and ended the night attending the FFA rodeo.
At the convention, the events of the day were kicked off by the opening session where all members in attendance were treated to a performance from the FFA chorus and band, reflections from the National FFA Officers, introduction of the states, and most notably the keynote speaker, Kevin Wanzer presented about choosing to love over hate. His main point was that the type of heart you have towards others is what matters. He kept the audience engaged with his positive attitude.
Members then had time at the expo where there were hundreds of agricultural colleges and businesses from all over the country for members to visit and interact with as well as a shopping area for FFA members to buy souvenirs.
That evening, BG FFA members were treated to dinner at Harry and Izzy’s steak house. After dinner, members had fun at the Escape Room USA where they worked together to escape the rooms they were assigned to. One of BG’s teams completed their escape faster than anyone at the escape room had seen.
BG FFA attended general convention sessions as well. During the second session, President Addie Naus and Treasurer Annie Urban had the honor to walk across the stage to receive the 3-Star Chapter award for BG FFA. This is the highest rating a chapter can receive.
On the way home from the convention, the chapter stopped at John Force Racing Shop. Members went through the museum, with some of them even getting the opportunity to sit in one of the drag racing cars. They also toured the operations part of the shop and got to see the different departments of the shop such as the paint booth, engines area, CNC machines that make the parts, as well as the fabrication shop.
The convention ended with the American FFA Degree Session. The BG FFA American FFA Degree recipients for 2024 were Eddie Eschedor and Madison Carillo. The American FFA Degree is the highest degree a FFA member can achieve and over 4,000 American FFA Degrees were handed out this year at the National FFA Convention. That number represents less than one percent of all FFA members, making it the organization’s highest honor.
The Bowling Green Agricultural Education Department is a satellite program of Penta Career Center.
