Indianapolis, Indiana — Iowa, and northwest Iowa specifically is exceptionally well-represented at this year’s National FFA Convention and Expo, which opened Wednesday in Indianapolis. Scott Johnson, executive director of the Iowa F-F-A Association, says about three-thousand Iowa members will be at the national event. Johnson says interest — and membership — in the ag education youth organization is growing at the state and national levels.
Iowa has 242 chapters and since 2012, the state’s seen a 25-percent boost in FFA membership. While fewer than two percent of Americans are directly involved with production agriculture, one in three jobs in Iowa are ag-related and young people are recognizing the advantages of pursuing careers in the ever-broadening field.
While the -state- convention in Ames draws record crowds with six-thousand FFA members attending this past spring, Johnson says the -national- convention presents even greater opportunities.
The ag industry offers a wealth of promise for association members, Johnson says, as the supply chain runs from production all the way to retail.
The 92nd annual national event in Indiana runs through Saturday, gathering some 65-thousand FFA members.
In our area, several high schools have sent students to the convention. Some schools only send students every other year. Selected school officials tell us that 11 students from Central Lyon, 8 from Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn, 21 from Sibley-Ocheyedan, 12 from Boyden-Hull, 7 from Rock Valley, and 19 from Sioux Center are attending the national convention, in addition to many others from the area.
