INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, June 30, 2026/National FFA Organization) – The inaugural National FFA Catalyst Conference was held June 18-20 in Indianapolis. Centered on the National FFA Organization’s Living to Serve initiative, the conference helped students transform community service into meaningful service projects through leadership development, collaboration and hands-on learning.

During the three-day conference, students participated in leadership sessions, chapter planning, community reflections and approximately 12 hours of service while learning how to identify authentic community needs and develop projects designed for long-term impact.

“Living to Serve means more than completing a service project. It’s about creating lasting change,” said Elizabeth Sendelweck, program specialist with the National FFA Organization. “By combining leadership development with hands-on service-learning projects, students gained the skills and confidence to return home, strengthen their chapters and create projects that make a difference in their communities.”

Representing two dozen FFA chapters from across the country, students spent time giving back to the Indianapolis community. Their work included packing snack packs for local organizations, landscaping community spaces, creating floral arrangements and cards for assisted living residents, assembling dog leash kits for FFA chapters and installing a permanent landscape garden at the National FFA Center. Photos from the 2026 National FFA Catalyst Conference are available here.

Participating FFA Chapters included:

Arizona
Flowing Wells FFA

Arkansas
White County Central FFA

Colorado
Manzanola FFA

Connecticut
Wamogo FFA

Hawaii
Kohala FFA

Idaho
Rigby FFA

Kentucky
Madisonville North Hopkins FFA

Michigan
Ravenna FFA

Minnesota
Glencoe-Silver Lake FFA

Mississippi
Brandon FFA
Pelahatchie FFA

Missouri
Carrollton Area Career Center FFA

Montana
Beaverhead FFA

New Mexico
Shiprock FFA

North Dakota
Golden Valley County FFA

Ohio
Versailles FFA

Puerto Rico
Dr. Maria Cadilla De Martinez FFA

South Carolina
Cheraw FFA

Texas
Rusk FFA

Utah
North Summit FFA

Virginia
C L Payne FFA

Washington
Goldendale FFA

Wisconsin
Prairie Du Chien FFA

Wyoming
Green River FFA

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.

# # #

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.