PLYMOUTH — Plymouth FFA set off Nov. 1 to attend the 96th annual National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Plymouth sent 10 members to the convention. Members that attended were Nicole Beverage, Rylee Gowitzka, Rylie Edwards, Braden Montgomery, Olivia Balkin, Kyrsten Caudill, Kendall Oakley, Matthew Gillum, Zach Miller and Isaiah Miller.
The Convention took place from Nov. 1 to the 4 and had a record breaking attendance of 72,952 members from all 50 states. The convention highlights and awards members’ success through the FFA and agricultural education.
On Wednesday, members had the opportunity to tour Jungle Jims where they learned many interesting facts about the history of the store, many different foods and cultures, how to prepare specific foods from different countries and much more.
Next, they had a self guided tour of the Newport Aquarium which is host to many different aquatic creatures.
Students were given the opportunity to touch a stingray, see alligators, crocodiles, many different varieties of fish, penguins, lizards, iguanas, sharks, a sea turtle, frogs and even a few snakes. There were so many hands-on learning opportunities.
On Thursday and Friday, members attended leadership workshops, career shows, and a FFA shopping mall and expo. Members received information from colleges, ag businesses and other organizations associated with agriculture. There were 287 different exhibitor booths that members could explore and gain information from throughout the expo center.
Friday after spending time at the convention center, members and chaperones attended the fifth general session.
They watched many hardworking and talented students receive awards including Proficiency Awards: Agricultural Processing, Diversified Crop Production, Diversified Horticulture, Environmental Science and Natural Resources, Fiber and/or Oil Crop Production, Forage Production, Forest Management and Products, Outdoor Recreation, Wildlife Production and Management, Agriscience Research Plant Systems and Career and Leadership Development Event Awards: Poultry Evaluation, Conduct of Chapter Meetings, Agricultural Technology & Mechanical Systems, Employment Skills, Meats Evaluation & Technology, Environmental & Natural Resources, Milk Quality & Products Agriscience Fair Awards: Plant Systems and Building Communities: Premiere Chapter Award.
Opening ceremonies started with the National Officers from 1972-1973 for their 50th anniversary.
They thought that was so cool and everyone was so excited that they got to see it.
They met the candidates for National Officers for 2023 and the National FFA Band and heard them play some amazing music.
The group then traveled to the Indiana State Fairgrounds to watch the World’s Toughest Rodeo.
On Saturday, the group traveled back to the Lucas Oil Stadium to watch Aliya Echelbarger receive the American FFA Degree.
During the convention, there were 4,423 American Degrees awarded. Of these, 457 were awarded to the Ohio FFA members.
The American Degree is the fourth and final degree awarded in the FFA and less than 1 percent of FFA members receive this degree.
Aaron Artrip-Kuhn also earned his American FFA Degree, but he was not able to attend and receive his degree in person as he was at Basic Training for the U.S. Army Reserves.
The Plymouth FFA Chapter would like to thank the Plymouth-Shiloh FFA Alumni for financially helping to sponsor this trip, the Plymouth-Shiloh Local Schools Board of Education for allowing students to attend and all trip chaperones including Becky Snyder, Megan Caudill, Berta Baker, and Matt and Sarah Montgomery for assisting with a fantastic trip for our students.