INDIANAPOLIS — The Hoosier state welcomed back FFA students from across the United States and points beyond for the 94th National FFA Convention and Expo last week. Indianapolis has hosted the convention for many years; however, last year COVID sent the event virtual. 

Downtown Indianapolis was once more filled with blue-jacketed youngsters who were trying out everything from the local cuisine to motorized scooters. The event also boasts a huge farm and ranch related shopping mall and an exposition center where participants could see the latest in agriculture technology and talk to representatives from major colleges and universities offering ag-related studies. 

The final total for attendance for the three-day event was just over 60,000, according to Kristy Meyer, Communications Manager. 

Social media took centerstage for many of the students. Exhibitors took advantage of this and set up photo opportunities and even displayed helpful hashtags. A group of three students from Puerto Rico could barely walk without being stopped and asked for photos of their jackets. Many students were photographing jackets from chapters and collecting them like trading cards. 

In the shopping area; a crowd of at least 50 people deep surrounded a man who was signing autographs. The man in the middle of melee was Dale Brisby, star of Rodeo Time on YouTube as well as a top rodeo competitor. He was certainly a favorite of many of the younger crowd. 

When the exposition center opened at noon; hundreds of students surged forward to be the first to try out numerous simulator devices and other virtual reality experiences. Most of the booths devoted to colleges and universities also had their fair share of visitors as students were able to learn more about various ag programs and opportunities. For those who went old school, you could still just climb into the cab of the latest tractor or even walk under a tractor that was up on lifts to provide an interesting view from underneath. 

Officers for the 2021-2022 year were also elected. Students from Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin are part of the new leadership team.

These members were selected from 37 candidates vying for the honor. Candidates take part in an extensive interview process with the National FFA Officer Nominating Committee leading up to the selection. 

• Cole Baerlocher, an agricultural education major from Washington, was elected national president. He attends Oregon State University. 

• Jackson Sylvester, an agriculture major from Delaware, was elected national secretary. He attends the University of Delaware. 

• Cortney Zimmerman, an agricultural communications major from Wisconsin, was elected central region vice president. She attends South Dakota State University. 

• Erik Robinson Jr., a criminal justice major from Georgia, was elected southern region vice president. He attends the University of Georgia. 

• Josiah Cruikshank, a business administration and mechanical engineering major from Oregon, was elected western region vice president. He attends Oregon State University. 

• Mallory White, an agronomy major from Kentucky, was elected eastern region vice president. She attends Murray State University in Kentucky.

Throughout their year of service to the National FFA Organization, the officers will interact with business and industry leaders; thousands of FFA members and teachers; corporate sponsors; government and education officials; state FFA leaders; the public; and more. The team will lead personal growth and leadership training conferences for FFA members throughout the country and help set policies that will guide the future of FFA and the next generation of leaders.

Numerous awards are also bestowed on chapters and individuals during the three-day event. Some of those who won from the Farm World readership area are listed here. For a full list of winners visit www.ffa.org.

Justin Preece of the Urbana FFA Chapter in Ohio was among the winners of a 2021 Agricultural Proficiency Award. Agricultural Proficiency Awards honor FFA members who, through supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs), have developed specialized skills that they can apply toward their future careers. Students compete in areas ranging from agricultural communications to wildlife management. Proficiency awards are also recognized at local and state levels and provide recognition to members exploring and becoming established in agricultural career pathways. 

Preece won for Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance. He became passionate about this supervised agricultural experience (SAE) area after driving his grandfather’s John Deere 3020. He jumped at the chance for a job at his local Case IH dealer, even though they only needed someone to clean about the shop. After two months, however, he began detailing new and used farm equipment for the shop. Preece has since advanced into assembling augers. He has accepted a full-time position as a lead technician for their Kubota line and certified welder. 

Zoe Parrott of the Northmor FFA Chapter in Ohio was named in Sheep Production-Entrepreneurship. She watched her father raise sheep when she was a child and became inspired to follow in his footsteps. Her project consists of 24 ewes that are mainly Hampshire and Hamp crosses, three replacement ewe lambs, one Hamp cross ram, and one Hampshire cross ram. The Hamp cross ram was produced by Parrott using laparoscopic artificial insemination. 

Robert Gray of the Western Brown FFA Chapter in Ohio won Turf Grass Management. He started his foray into lawn care when his grandmother needed help maintaining her property. He began mowing and weed-eating her yard every other weekend. His interest in the work grew until he started working as a lawn technician for a local company. His duties include mowing, weed-eating, blowing off surfaces, trimming, edging, spraying, and performing equipment cleaning and maintenance. 

Eli Patrick of the Covington FFA Chapter in Tennessee placed in Vegetable Production. He has a three-acre vegetable production farm where he produces a large variety of vegetables, including sweet corn, yellow squash, purple hull peas, bell peppers, habanero peppers, cayenne peppers, okra, cucumbers, zucchini, sweet potatoes and much more. He sells his produce to wholesalers, produce stands, neighbors, and keeps some for personal use. He plans to take over the family farm after earning a degree in plant and soil science. 

Addy Stuever Battel of the Cass City FFA Chapter in Michigan was awarded Service-Learning. She was 12 years old when her hometown lost its only grocery store, becoming a food desert. As a farm kid, she realized that while her freezer was full of meat, others were not as fortunate. She recruited three of her friends from FFA to raise 50 broiler chickens and a pig for a local food pantry. More than six years later, her organization, “Meating the Need for Our Village” is a nationally recognized hunger relief nonprofit with a $62,611 impact on the community. 

The 94th National FFA Convention & Expo also featured the first ever onsite National Days of Service event, which included two projects for attendees to participate in.

Members had the opportunity to build and paint 100 Little Free Pantries – which resemble tiny houses and were filled with donated non-perishable food items and hygiene products. These will be placed around Indianapolis. In addition, convention attendees could write cards to go in meal boxes for Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana.

“Historically, we host National Days of Service out in the community, but because of the lingering effects of COVID-19, we have decided to move the service project indoors,” said Michelle Sullivan, senior manager of local Engagement for FFA. “It’s the first time we’ve ever done it and we’re really excited to see what the outcome is going to be this year.”

Sullivan says addressing hunger is one of the challenges FFA is uniquely qualified to tackle.

“Hunger is a hidden need, and it happens everywhere,” Sullivan says. “Our organization consists of members who are ready to tackle big challenges. In an effort to help fight food insecurity, we are going to be placing these pantries in and around Indianapolis.”

“The cards for Meals on Wheels provide an opportunity for everyone attending convention to make an impact on the Indianapolis community,” Sullivan says.

Breanna Thompson, a junior from Warsaw FFA in Warsaw, Ind., says the Little Free Pantries, though little, will have big impact.

“It shows FFA members all the opportunities they have to help their community and make an impact, even if it’s just something small like this making a food pantry box to put around your own hometown or state,” Thompson says.