Waitsburg FFA heads to 92nd National FFA Convention

WAITSBURG- 5:00 on a Monday morning comes way too quickly for most of us, but for six FFA members at Waitsburg High School, it couldn't come fast enough. Dressed in their corduroy blue and corn yellow, they boarded a flight and head to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 92nd National FFA Convention.

"The kids have been busy getting ready, with fundraising efforts starting back in September," said FFA Advisor Nicole Abel. The members hosted a bake sale and a lasagna dinner, operated the concession stand for a volleyball game, and received lots of donations. A successful 50/50 raffle was also held during the Homecoming Football game.

When asked about what they were looking forward to the most, Caleb Barron, a sophomore, didn't hesitate to say that he's "looking forward to supporting Tom House" when he is announced for being awarded his American FFA Degree; one of the highest honors that a member can obtain. House graduated from Waitsburg High School in 2018. All the students agreed that they are looking forward to all the memories waiting to be made. McKellyn Bradham, a senior, mentioned that he is interested in becoming an FFA Advisor in the future, and said that he is excited to see what new agriculture opportunities are around the country.

The FFA'ers don't have much time for rest while in Indianapolis. They plan on attending a Session; a roughly 2 hour event that features keynote speakers, up and coming agriculture related announcements, and various awards... and that is a very brief overview! Sessions are led by the National FFA Officer team, and include guests from every state and eligible U.S territory. The group will explore the National FFA Center and the Indiana Expo Center, where the FFA Mall can be found. The kids will also participate in the National Day of Service, where they will perform community service while dressed in their Official Dress.

The FFA members are also looking forward to cheering on their own district in the Conduct of Chapter Career Development Event (CDE). The Asotin FFA advanced to the National level, and Waitsburg FFA is excited to watch and support their fellow members. The Conduct of Chapter CDE is judged on how well members run a meeting, from opening and closing ceremonies to discussing, debating and resolving issues as a team. Conduct of Chapter is performed at each FFA meeting, and the competition will be a great learning opportunity for the younger members.

"I'm excited to watch the kids learn new leadership skills and bring them back to the chapter," Abel said. "I look forward to the enthusiasm and excitement, too." Waitsburg FFA will be well-represented all the way over in Indiana. We will have a follow up of their trip once they return.