By: Elizabeth Boyd
Apple Orchards, Hobart Welding School, Warner Seed Company, keynote speakers highlighting how to be confident in one’s own skin, BBQ dinners, hotel rooms, watching FH alumni earn American degrees, and more! In early November, some Federal Hocking FFA members attended the FFA National Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. Athens and Alexander members also attended and bonds were strengthened. They watched keynote speakers present and learned about leadership and how to be confident in your own body. Junior Taylor Snedden was one of the two Federal Hocking students that went to the convention and she reflected on her favorite parts about convention.
“I loved being able to explore and meet new people and realize how many people were there and listening to the retirement speeches.”
The speeches are one of the main things the convention is known for, everyone goes to it. It is growing, and had a new attendance record with 73,000 people there. It makes one realize how vast this amazing organization really is and how many people attend it. Students enjoyed seeing the welding school and hearing about different careers offered. At the apple orchard, there was a tour of the different trees and why they are planted in specific locations. The seed company was a highlight of the trip as students got to see how the seeds are taken from the plant all the way to the seeds that they sell.
“I enjoyed seeing my sister get her American degree there, because that will be me in two years, actually the 100th National Convention, my mom got hers and my Grandpa did also so it makes it extra special,” Senior Elizabeth Boyd stated.
The Ag Teacher, JoAnn Pfeiffer said her favorite thing about convention is “hearing about what kids saw at the career show, or what they learned during the tours and what their thoughts were about the whole experience.”
“My favorite part is probably the tours, because I can learn something new from every place we stop at every single year. This year I learned a lot about apples at an orchard, I learned about seed and corn from a family seed corn company, and I can use this information in the classroom. It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it!”
The American Degree is a prestigious honor only given to less than 1% of members annually. FH Alumni Emma Lucas, Sheridan Boyd and Kyndal Snedden got their American degrees this year at convention, and now are on Pfeiffer’s wall of fame.
