INDIANAPOLIS (Monday, July 6, 2026/National FFA Organization) – The National FFA Organization, the nation’s premier school-based student leadership organization with over one million members, recently hosted its second Next Gen Conference of the year in Chicago from June 23-27.

Next Gen Conferences provide FFA student members with a look into career opportunities within the agriculture industry. The June conference brought together 75 high school sophomores, juniors and seniors to learn more about the value of agribusiness systems through informational sessions, panel discussions, and tours.

The Next Gen Conference: Agribusiness Systems tour locations in Chicago included:

• Invenergy
• Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences

Each tour stop was carefully planned to provide a learning experience for the student attendees. In addition to tour locations, students had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with CHS, CNH Industrial and GROWMARK.

“Over the decades, the business of agriculture has evolved beyond the traditional farming landscape,” said Ashli Weinrich, Program Specialist, Advocacy, Literacy & Ag Based Experiences, Programs and Events Division, National FFA Organization. “Hosting our Next Gen Conference in Chicago gives our members the opportunity to explore what agriculture looks like in a non-traditional landscape.”

The 75 students selected to participate were chosen from a competitive applicant pool. Students were asked to share about their Supervised Agricultural Experience, the work-based learning portion of agricultural education that applies concepts learned in the classroom to internships or entrepreneurship. Supervised Agricultural Experiences of students who attended the conference included small business operations, marketing, farm management and more.

The following 75 high school students were selected to attend the conference:

California
Khyle Aphay
Adalid Martinez

Colorado
Emmett Weber

Florida
Justin Null
Cody Adler
Emery Gorum

Georgia
Claire Whidden

Idaho
Ian Penuelas

Indiana
Zoe Haemmerle
Connor Lawrence
Bailey Anderson
Marcus Riecken
Thomas Scates

Iowa
Taylor Houser
Aubrey Schnebly
Caleb Sorenson
Cooper Loutsch
Max Schnepf

Kansas
Hadley Musson
Reagan Every
Anabell Mugler
Brittney Dibben
Alyssa Baker
Lauryn Caviness
Peyton Walker
Natalee Treft
Alaina Ast
Ava Bales
Lorelei Stafford

Kentucky
Katherine Meals
Robert Coffman 

Louisiana
Austin Bruchhaus
Christopher Grappe
Arianna Holloway

Minnesota
Addisyn Schiller

Missouri
Owen Colvin
Alaina Zerr
Connor Gray
Mason Berner
Lania Morgan
Nancy Vargas
Adalyn Wiest
Adian Adams

New Mexico
Heath Finch
Aria Lomas
Bryson Klinger

New York
Elizabeth Lilyea
Clara Currie

North Carolina
Ava Grice
Lillian Riddick
Kaitlyn Sutton
Haleigh Pendley

North Dakota
Marisa Mumm

Ohio
Claire Rhoades
Sara Rhoades
Madison Hines
Jacob Scott
Knox Earich

Oklahoma
Bailey Matlock

South Carolina
Aubree Davis
Makayla Clark
Amelia Morris

South Dakota
Summer Koch
Tessa Burke

Virginia
Garrett Rosson

Washington
Tyler Dixon
Carolina Morfin Martinez

West Virginia
Emily Bever
Miah McCue
Linnea Brown
Catherine Hoover

Wisconsin
Brielle Huffman
Bryce Marr
Lynn Ueeck
Ramona Holden

Next Gen Conferences take place three times this year in different states, each aimed at preparing the next generation of leaders who will feed, fuel, clothe, and sustain the world through educational and career exploration opportunities. The next conference will take place in September in Kansas City, Missouri, and will be focused on animal systems.

John Deere, CNH Case New Holland, Growmark, Invernergy and ADM are sponsors of the Agribusiness Systems Next Gen.

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,042,245 student members as part of 9,407 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 1,042,245 student members as part of 9,407 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

About National FFA Foundation
The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations, and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders, and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees composed of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA Alumni, the foundation is a separately registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.