By Dave Blower Jr.
The Indiana Corn Marketing Council (ICMC) and the Indiana Soybean Alliance (ISA) sponsored the Kickoff Luncheon for the 96th National FFA Convention, which was in Indianapolis on Oct. 31. The Indianapolis Convention Center was the host to the noteworthy 96th National FFA Convention and Expo.
This year’s event featured record-breaking attendance and a chance for youth from across the country to celebrate the future of agriculture. Participating in the convention were 72,954 members, advisors and guests. More than 120 hotels were used by FFA members throughout the Indianapolis area.
During the Nov. 1-4 event, 96 student workshops and 36 teacher workshops were offered. The career show in the Expo Hall included 287 exhibitor booths. The convention can be the culmination of years of involvement; 4,423 American FFA Degrees and 213 Honorary American FFA Degrees were awarded at the 2023 event. Fulfilling the “Living to Serve” motto, 2,640 FFA members served at 21 local nonprofits in the Indianapolis area.
For access to a full recap of this year’s convention, including award results, radio interviews, FFA Live! segments and more, go online to www.FFA.org.
Convention theme: Evolve
ISA Chair Mike Koehne, a Greensburg, Ind., farmer, and ICMC President Paul Hodgen, a farmer from Roachdale, Ind., spoke with the luncheon’s attendees about their FFA experiences and how that shaped their lives. Both admitted the theme to this year’s convention, “Evolve,” was appropriate.
“I really like the theme of this year’s convention – Evolve,” Koehne said. “Like many of the FFA members who will wear their blue jackets around Indy this week, I was not raised on a farm. This career that I enjoy would not be possible without the friends and advisors who guided me during my high school FFA experience. Personally, I had to evolve to build this life that I have. When I was in high school, I would often go home with my friends, and I’d work on their farms after school. This was a great learning experience for me. I learned some of the skills I would need if I wanted to be a farmer.”
Hodgen said one of the highlights of his years in FFA was attending the national convention.
“Like many things, you will get out of your FFA experience what you put in it. And that goes for your FFA convention experience here in Indianapolis, too,” Hodgen said. “When I was a junior in high school, I had the honor of attending a National FFA Convention in Kansas City. I remember the opening ceremony when I was standing with a crowd of FFA members from all over the country. I knew I wasn’t in Roachdale, Ind., anymore.”
Koehne concurred. “The highlight of my FFA career was getting to go to the National FFA Convention in Kansas City,” he said. “At that point in my life, that was the furthest I’d ever been from my home. I happened to be a chapter officer, and there were only 10 of us who were able to attend. I had never seen anything like it. There were thousands of FFA members from all over the country in Kansas City. I made many new friends. I learned how agriculture is different in other parts of the country, and I also learned how it’s the same.”
Hodgen added that the convention has also evolved through the years. However, the basics of learning new things and making new friends will never change.
“I made friends for a lifetime at that convention. I made friends from all over the country and from all over Indiana. And today, with social media, I am able to stay in touch with many of them,” he said.
“Social media is just one way we’ve seen society evolve since I was in high school. The FFA has also evolved. In my day, FFA was mostly a farm organization for kids interested in agriculture. Today, it is the premier youth leadership organization in the world.”
Living to Serve
Koehne said, while in school he participated on many soil judging and livestock judging teams. He also learned how to communicate and organize his thoughts before making a presentation. These skills, he said, helped him as he started his farm.
“As a way to pay back those who helped me when I was in FFA, we have hosted soil judging and other events on our farm,” Koehne said. “Each of my kids have participated in FFA. I am very proud of their work. I hope you enjoy your convention. I hope it is a memory of a lifetime like it is for me.”
Hodgen agreed that his FFA service helped his educational career, where he earned advanced degrees in soil science, soil fertility and agronomy from Oklahoma State University and the University of Nebraska. He said the lessons learned in FFA frequently help him on his farm.
“The FFA is the premier youth organization in the world,” Hodgen said. “It has an impact on thousands of young men and women on a daily basis, and it has influenced many more who are FFA alumni. I stand before you today as one of those grateful alumni. For me, and many others like me, FFA has taught essential life skills. These skills include critical thinking, responsibility and being able to reason arguments while on my feet. I was taught how to communicate and to defend my opinions. In training for FFA contests or preparing for meetings, I learned many skills that have helped me in my career.”
He wrapped up the luncheon by telling the student members that Indiana’s corn checkoff was proud to be a part of the convention, and he added some advice.
“The principles of FFA beat in the hearts of Indiana’s farmers,” Hodgen said. “My advice: Make the most of this experience. You’ll never forget this moment in your life. Make friends, get out of your comfort zone and learn something new. You’ll never regret it.”
