FFA Joins Other Organizations for Clothing Drive

As one of the ten National Days of Service sites at this year’s Convention, 360 FFA members joined National Safe Place, CSX Transportation, City Year, and Dignity U Wear to hold a clothing drive for kids around the country in need of brand-new clothes.

By Becca Harrison, Newsroom and Media Relations Intern

“You’ve clearly never been in the shoes of someone with only one pair of clothes, have you?” one young FFA member asked her peer, who was not taking their clothing drive volunteer opportunity seriously. “We’re gonna do this, and we’re gonna do it right,” she told him, as they began their assigned duty of sorting through boxes of men’s pants.

This attitude of determination and motivation echoed throughout the opening activity of the National Safe Place session of the National Days of Service celebration. A record high 1,500 FFA members will participate in this year’s National Days of Service, held at ten different sites throughout the 86th National FFA Convention & Expo.

FFA Link: Your Way to Career Success

Network with industry leaders and young professionals with new FFALink

By Hannah Kleckner, newsroom and media relations intern

LOUISVILLE – As a young professional and FFA member, a career within the agriculture industry may be in your not-so-distant future. It’s no secret, though, that landing an actual job isn’t always an easy process. But fear not; if a “connection to success” is what you’re looking for, FFA Link is here to help.

FFA Link is a newly established exclusive group of college students and young professionals ready to connect their passion for agriculture with real-world career skills.

86th National FFA Convention & Expo Lifts Off in Louisville

National FFA Convention & Expo opened on Wednesday.

By Hannah Kleckner, Newsroom and Media Relations Intern

Three…two…one…lift-off! The 86th National FFA Convention & Expo has reached ignition at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky.

“Ignite,” the theme for this year’s convention, is geared toward individual leadership, growth and success. It also seeks to challenge FFA members to think about how they can “ignite today and the future.”

First-time convention attendees Chris Brenner and Evyn Ysasis of the North Pole FFA Chapter (Alaska) are excited to make the most of everything the convention has to offer.

FFA Member Scores Second Tractor Restoration Award

Ryan Haass of the Devine, Texas FFA Chapter went for two wins in a row when he took home the Grand Champion title in the 2012 Delo Tractor Restoration Competition with the restoration of a 1970 Case 1070.

By: Lauren Schwab, National FFA Convention & Expo Newsroom Intern 

The Delo Tractor Restoration Competition began in 1995 to recognize and reward the creativity, technical aptitude and business knowledge of high school students who restore tractors for fun. Participants develop teamwork, project management, budget management, planning and marketing skills. All of these new skills will enable them to become future leaders in the agriculture community.

Are you a hero?

National FFA in Times Square!

This photo of our 2011-12 National Officer team appeared on the Times Square Reuters board in New York City June 5-8. The photo and message appeared a total of eight times in NYC and five times on the Fashion Board in Las Vegas.