There are many interactive booths and hands-on activities at the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo, and the FFA Experience Booth is no exception.
Located in the expo, the booth brings the FFA past and present to life, giving members a chance to learn from national officers, play games and explore historic memorabilia.
“Students will learn all about FFA in the classroom, and they may see things and learn things in the student handbook, but coming into our booth, the student handbook really comes to life,” said Amber Davis, the National FFA senior educational consultant.
Members say exploring the booth makes them feel more connected to the National FFA Organization’s roots and its growth.
“I didn’t know there was so much history that went into FFA before [I came here],” said Arizona FFA member Matthew Rodas. “I knew there was a lot that went into it, but seeing all the events that have happened makes it really special.”
This year, that history is front and center as FFA also celebrates the 90th anniversary of the New Farmers of America (NFA), which served Black vocational agriculture students in segregated public schools in Southern states. The jacket display inside the booth includes historic NFA jackets and other unique pieces like sweetheart jackets.
“I was…reading the sign over there about the sweetheart jacket, and my grandma actually was once telling me about how she had one of those, so I thought that was really interesting just to learn more about them,” said Minnesota FFA member Emma Bluhm.
Continuing to connect history to the present, this year’s national officers left its mark on the booth by sharing statements of belonging.
“The national FFA officers are great role models for students,” said Olivia Power, FFA Experience Booth manager. “The fact that the national FFA officers have signed on to the statement of belonging, it helps students feel like they can do it as well.”
