SHELBY — Shelby FFA members got the opportunity to travel to the 97th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis Oct. 24 to 26.
Along the way, the group traveled to Jungle Jim’s International Food Market, Newport Aquarium and Blooms and Berries Farm Fall Festival to learn about agriculture in a different environment.
At Jungle Jim’s, members went on a tour of the market and got to try a few international snacks like dried mealworms and guava nectar. This taught students about the food produced in other countries and how it differs from the food we produce in America.
Next they traveled to Newport Aquarium where members got to do a meet and greet with Suzie, the African penguin, and learned about the conservation efforts being made
for African penguins and their habitats.
Members also got to explore the aquarium after the penguin encounter.
Afterwards, members went to Blooms and Berries Farm Fall Festival to have some fun while exploring a corn maze and going on a hayride. They also learned about the consumerism of agriculture in a fall festival.
Convention was valuable learning experience
They then headed onto Indianapolis to attend the National Convention. At the convention, members attended sessions where they got the opportunity to hear Temple Grandin, a trailblazer for animals and autism, speak on the different types of minds and how they are all necessary.
Members also listened to National Officers Carter Howell and Morgan Anderson give their retiring addresses. They then got the opportunity to go to student workshops to learn valuable skills to bring back to the Shelby FFA chapter.
On Saturday morning before heading home, the group attended the American Degree session where they got to cheer on Jena Lafon, Wesley Madison (PCTC), and Alyssa Neil while they crossed the stage and received their American Degrees.
The American Degree is the highest honor a member can receive and is only awarded to less than 1 percent of members.
“Attending the National FFA Convention was a great experience that inspired me to grow as a leader and strengthened my passion for agriculture. I enjoyed meeting with colleges in the trade show and talking to members from all across the country,” said Sarah Smith, a senior member who attended the trip.
Another wonderful trip and congratulations to Jena, Wesley and Alyssa on receiving their degrees.