INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Last week’s news came as a stroke of fortune for a lot of Hoosier FFA kids and advisors.

“We’re only 40 minutes from downtown Indianapolis,” remarked one student after the announcement at the National FFA Center on Indy’s west side July 15, adding there are things to do near the Indiana Convention Center, whereas in Louisville – the site of this year’s National FFA Convention, and for the last two years – he said activities and hotels are more spread out.

When the National FFA Convention returns to Indy in 2016, it will be staying not for the original three years planned, but through 2024. National FFA Advisor and Board of Directors Chair Dr. Steve Brown delivered the news to an assemblage of state and city officials and FFA students, saying the board evaluated the convention’s needs and future growth.

“We’re excited to bring the convention and expo back to Indianapolis,” he said, citing the hospitality of the capital city and smaller towns surrounding it. Indicating the blue-jacketed students flanking him, he said, “Those before you today are what we are all about.”

The FFA and Indianapolis Convention & Visitors Assoc. estimates an economic impact for the city and surrounding area of $36.2 million in 2016, by staging the convention for tens of thousands of attendees from across the country. In 2014, 64,000 went to Louisville’s convention.

“It’s a great day for our economy, it’s a great day for agriculture in our state,” Gov. Mike Pence told the FFA members and officials. “I am excited to see many of your number coming to our capital city … and it is fitting you are coming to Indiana, because our flag is blue-and-gold.

“From the founding of this state, Indiana is agriculture.”

Mayor Greg Ballard said he’s seen a strong relationship between the city and FFA. “There’s almost no better moment to be mayor of Indianapolis than when you see 50,000 to 60,000 blue jackets around downtown,” he remarked. “You’re going to love it here every year; I guarantee that.”

The state legislature voted to commit $500,000 per year of the convention to aid with its expenses, or $4.5 million, Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC) Media Relations Manager Abby Gras said. Of that, $1 million, the first two years, is appropriated from the Indiana Office of Tourism Development budget; the rest will have to be decided later. The IEDC is not providing any funding at this time, she added.

Dr. Dwight Armstrong, CEO of the National FFA Organization, said when it looked at the logistics and planning of putting on a convention this size, there aren’t many venues that can handle it. In addition to the convention center, the event will pull in Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Lucas Oil Stadium and the state fairgrounds, as well as eight hotels.

He said the board will go through another decision process in 2024. As for rumors of a permanent move back to Indiana, he said, “There’s been no discussion made about permanent.”

The Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau estimates the convention has a local economic impact of roughly $40 million each year the city hosts it. Asked about FFA’s decision, Marketing Communications Manager Kat Gallagher said, in good humor, “We’re getting them this year. We’re still excited about hosting them; they’re a fantastic group to have.”

President and CEO Karen Williams added, “In the convention business, we are always looking into the future. When we look at 2019, we are still expecting a banner year, despite FFA’s recent decision. We will have a newly renovated and expanded convention center, more than 1,700 new hotel rooms and prime convention dates available which make us exceptionally attractive to many groups, including corporate meetings and trade shows.

“We will continue to host bright minds of the future with educational conventions like SkillsUSA and Vex World Championship. Though we are growing in different directions, we have enjoyed our partnership with FFA and wish them much success.”

Future STEM leaders

Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann reported there are more than 11,000 FFA members in Indiana, increasing all the time. And the national convention, she said, is filled with the nation’s future ag and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) leaders.

STEM is a big part of Beech Grove FFA’s activities and focus, according to high school agriscience teacher and FFA Advisor Chris Kaufman.

Located close to downtown Indianapolis, 70 percent or more of the school’s students receive free or reduced-rate lunches.

Kaufman said he grew up poor as one of three children in a single-parent family in Cloverdale, and said he probably wouldn’t have left town without the FFA. “Somewhere along the way (in school), someone pushed me to take an ag class,” he explained.

It changed his life. Three degrees in ag econ and education later, he’s trying to help other disadvantaged kids change theirs. In August 2012 the school started its FFA chapter with three ag teachers, 45 student members and a $5,000 grant from Marion County Farm Bureau. Now there are four ag teachers, 107 members in grades 8-12 and sponsorships from Farm Bureau and Dow to help pay for memberships and activities.

This also helped the four teachers take 32 students to last year’s National FFA Convention in Louisville (Kaufman explained school rules dictate there cannot be a higher student-teacher ratio than 8:1 for overnight trips). This year he hopes to take all the FFA kids – since they don’t have to stay overnight – and spend long hours downtown so they can take part in convention and social activities.

“I have students in my program who have never been to downtown Indianapolis, and we’re seven miles away,” Kaufman said. He pointed out besides giving the FFA members more chances to see exhibits and compete for awards, kids are often gregarious and benefit by socializing with a wide pool of people.

In talking with plant scientists at Dow, he learned most went into agriculture by accident. “I find it ironic that nobody’s prepped those kids for (ag-related careers),” he said of STEM students – so those are fields Beech Grove FFA tends to focus on, rather than production agriculture.

Kaufman, 40, first went as a student to the national convention in Kansas City, where it was from 1928-98. Louisville hosted the event from 1999-2005; Indianapolis, from 2006-12; and Louisville again as of 2013. In 2009, National FFA decided to rotate the convention every three years between the two, with Indianapolis originally slated to host again from 2016-18.