Earlier this fall, 12 members of the Bowling Green FFA chapter were selected to travel to Indianapolis to attend the 95th annual National FFA Convention and Expo.
The members chosen were seniors: Eddie Eschedor, Ethan Helvoigt, Hunter Sockman, Emma Ferguson, Peyton Bosworth, Lindsay Eisel, Kenzie Spangenberg, Laney Crawford, and Madison Carrillo as well as junior members: Drew Thomas and sophomore members: Addie Naus and Averie Crawford. BG FFA traveled to the event with Oak Harbor FFA and Otsego FFA.
The events 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, Tamika Catchings. Catchings presented a speech about “when you love who you’re serving and what you’re serving, it doesn’t feel like you’re having to take time away from your day.”
The night ended with the chapter attending the World’s Toughest Rodeo at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Members spent much the next day at the expo center and the FFA shopping mall. At the expo, 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 went to Zip City, an indoor trampoline and zipline center.
Other than the extensive time spent at the convention center, BG FFA attended general convention sessions as well. During the second session, President Eddie Eschedor and Vice President Emma Ferguson 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.
After the expo, BG FFA departed from Indy, but the trip wasn’t over yet. On the way home the members were given a tour of Umbarger Show Feeds. They were educated about how the business is run as well as a tour of the facility. Members were shown where the feed comes into the facility, the feed mills, as well as the floor plan of the finished product.
The convention ended with the American FFA Degree Session. The BG FFA American FFA Degree recipient for 2022 was Konnaly Kale. 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 half of one percent of all FFA members, making it one of the organization’s highest honors.
The Bowling Green Agricultural Education Department is a satellite program of Penta Career Center.
