Photo courtesy of Elsa Schmidt

Each year, thousands of FFA students from hundreds of chapters flock to Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention. This year, the Mid-Prairie Chapter saw nine students make the trip.

Attending the convention for the Golden Hawks were Gabi Robertson, Elliott Debler, Tate Bombei, Peighton Ford, Carly Nickell, Allie Whetstine, Blake Peck, Charlotte Sieren, Madelyn Sieren, and FFA Advisor Elsa Schmidt.

The National FFA Convention gathers these students for a week of workshops, competitive events, and award ceremonies with the goal of growing the next generation of leaders. Additionally, the Mid-Prairie Chapter used this trip as an opportunity to grow their agricultural knowledge and have some fun. The nine students had a chance to tour Fair Oaks Farm, one of the largest working dairy and swine farms in the country, they visited the Indianapolis Zoo, and also attended a career expo and rodeo.

This event was the 96th National Convention. While previously hosted in Kansas City, Missouri and Louisville, Kentucky, the convention was first held in Indianapolis in 2006.