FFA members come together for State Convention

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — More than 3,000 people attended the Indiana State FFA Convention at Purdue University. The theme of the event was “Rooted.”

Highlights of convention included:

• Honoring student award winners for career and leadership development events.

• Announcing the State Stars.

• Announcing the Golden Owl recipient.

• Bestowing 430 Hoosier Degrees to members.

• Honoring the 2023 Honorary Hoosier Degree and Distinguished Service recipients.

• Electing the 2023-2024 state officer team.

• Community service events.

• Dancing the night away to celebrate a year of hard work.

Skylar Clingan, assistant director for leadership development at Indiana FFA, shared the annual FFA report at the convention.

“We in Indiana FFA have seen significant growth in our programs this past year,” Clingan said.

“From expansions in our fundraising efforts at the foundation to pre-pandemic levels of interest to the boom of memberships in programs, the 2022-2023 year has seen notable progress for Indiana FFA.

“This past year, the Hoosier spirit has shined brightly though our chapters and our members, with sweeping increases in participation in all avenues of association programming, including career and leadership development events, submitting degrees, proficiencies, scholarship applications, attending conferences and the State Convention.”

The organization exceeded its goal of 12,000 members and is proud to now have 13,980 members. The goal for next year is to reach 14,100 members.

“It’s going to take the positive message of each member and the support of each adviser to move us to this new height,” Clingan said.