Monday, October 24, 2011

We Are FFA - 84th National FFA Convention


Ten members of the Doniphan West FFA Chapter took the 523 mile journey to the 84th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., this past week. Members kicked off convention on Wednesday at the Agricultural Career Show where they had a chance to speak with college representatives and industry professionals. Later in the day, they attended the Opening Session in Conseco Fieldhouse to listen to national officers speak, watch chapters and members from across the nation receive awards and hear motivational speaker, Dave Roever talk about his time in Vietnam. After the Opening Session five members attended the National Chapter Award Banquet for chapters receiving the 3-Star ranking in the National Chapter Award program. To wrap-up Wednesday, members went to a haunted house for a some exciting and spooky entertainment.

On Thursday, the members attended a workshop that focused on being a part of your community. They then attended the Second General Session where members watched the National FFA Organization recognize Native Americans in agriculture and FFA and watched the Central Region Vice President, Wyatt DeJong give his retiring address. At this session Doniphan West was also recognized as a 3-Star chapter. At the conclusion of the session, our chapter went to eat at Joe's Crab Shack with members from the Seaman FFA Chapter and then went to Lucas Oil Stadium to watch Blake Shelton, with Steel Magnolia and Little Big Town in concert.

Doniphan West packed up and headed back to Kansas on Friday morning. On the way back, we stopped at the English Buffalo Ranch where members learned about the animals and had a chance to eat a Buffalo Burger.

Despite some rainy, cold and windy weather in Indianapolis, the trip was a great success and we can't wait to go back next year!