FFA Members Take Tech to The Skies
The National FFA Organization’s partnership with MINDS-i is bringing high-flying educational and competitive opportunities to the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo.
An established name in precision agriculture and competitive drones, MINDS-i is collaborating with the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) to host interactive workshops throughout the week.
“My dad got me interested in FFA through showing livestock,” says Preston Zinner, a member of the Western Hills FFA Chapter in Kentucky. “It wasn’t until my ag teacher taught me how to fly drones in greenhouses that I discovered my interest in drone technologies. I’m really excited to have this new learning opportunity.”
Beyond educational demonstrations, FFA members will have the opportunity to compete in the Aerial Drone Competition (ADC) Pro, a nationally recognized competitive outlet created by the RECF.
“The REC Foundation has been running robotics competitions for 16 years,” says Shelli Brasher, associate director of the drones support team, robotics education and competition foundation with RECF. “This is the first official week of the kickoff of ADC Pro. And so it’s debuting right here at the national convention.”
Whether members have spent months developing their skills within their chapters or are exploring robotics for the first time, the demonstrations and competitions offer opportunities for participants of all experience levels.
“I’ve competed in drone competitions before, but I’m really excited to compete here since this is my first time at the National FFA Convention & Expo,” says Emmett Greer of the Farmington FFA Chapter in New Mexico. His mother and FFA advisor, Gretchen Greer, helped introduce him to the competition.
Open to robotics enthusiasts beyond FFA, ADC Pro gives students an exclusive opportunity to showcase their skills, earn awards and potentially compete at future events.
“It’s a great tool for teaching computer science and coding,” Brasher says. “I get excited as an educator because the students are learning so much and they don’t even realize what they’re learning because all they’re doing is having fun.”
RECF’s partnership with the Unmanned Safety Institute extends these learning opportunities through FAA Part 107 training, unmanned aircraft systems curriculum and stackable certifications, helping students and educators turn their interest in drone technology into career-ready skills.
