Alaska FFA Celebrates 50 Years at the National FFA Convention & Expo
As thousands of FFA members gather in Indianapolis for the 99th National FFA Convention & Expo, Alaska FFA is celebrating 50 years of agricultural education and leadership.
In 1976, Alaska became the final state to receive its FFA charter, opening the door to new opportunities for students to participate in national events and competitions.
Celebrating the Past, Looking to the Future
Alaska FFA Executive Director Taylor Nelson traveled nearly 3,000 miles to Indianapolis with 50 members representing six chapters.
“It’s really great to see the way that the students are engaging with the history of the organization and then identifying ways that they want to carry that forward,” Nelson says.
In Alaska, FFA members are tackling challenges facing their communities, including food security, transportation and sustainability.
“The desire to learn how to best harvest and best feed others is something that a lot of our chapters focus on heavily because it’s such a massive aspect to the way that our state works,” Nelson says. “These FFA members are going to be the ones who take a step towards making sure that we are in a more food-secure state.”
Embracing What Makes Alaska Unique
Alaska FFA President Liam Wade is excited to help shape the future of agriculture in America’s Last Frontier.
As he explores the convention Expo, Wade shares stories about Alaska’s unique agricultural opportunities with members from the Lower 48. “In Alaska, we have the opportunity to show reindeer for a livestock project,” he says. “And that’s always astounding to most people.”
For Wade, the anniversary is about more than celebrating the past. “We have to lay the foundation for the next 50 years as the National FFA Organization approaches its 100th.”
