Every conversation starts with a spark, and inside the National FFA Convention & Expo, those sparks ignite futures. The expo floor is a prime place for these connections; this year, more than 300 exhibitors showed up to support and engage with FFA members from all over the country.
This year’s expo buzzed with energy as members explored everything from cutting edge agricultural technology to long-time favorites — like Culver’s, which handed out frozen custard (and smiles) all week long. “Engaging with FFA members]gives us hope for the future,” says Kimblerly Masterson, a Culver’s field operations supervisor.
Considering her own future, Molly Bramer from the Benton Central FFA Chapter in Indiana says the expo helped her, “get an idea of what I want to do in my future.” From college booths to career connections, FFA members are discovering how far the blue jacket can take them.
Industry and academic partners echoed that excitement. “We’re trying to recruit those…high-caliber students here at the National FFA Convention,” says Zoe Nolen, a student representative from Texas A&M. With opportunities to engage directly with colleges, employers, the U.S. Armed Forces and major agricultural manufacturers, members are exposed to a world of possibilities.
Surrounded by peers, mentors and professionals who can acknowledge their potential, FFA members often describe the convention as a place where they feel at home. It’s inspiring, “just seeing how many different people [are] here and…how we come together as a family of FFA,” says Ethan Renner of the Lincoln View FFA Chapter in Ohio. As the expo winds down, the energy lingers — in conversations, connections and the confidence sparked by discovery. Whether it’s a future employer, a chat with a college representative or a shared laugh over frozen custard, FFA members leave knowing they’re a part of something bigger. The blue jacket doesn’t just open doors; it builds bridges. And for thousands of students this year, national convention lit the way forward.
