Article written by Skyler Allen, Racine Southern FFA Historian
The Racine Southern FFA Chapter geared and headed to one of the most significant events of the year, the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana. The group of students who participated in this event was Will Smith, Wyatt Smith, Tyson Hupp, Hunter Lackey, Mckenzie Sellers, Marcy Evans, and Bella Johnson. They embarked on a multi-day trip to join over 70,000 FFA members from across the nation for an experience focused on leadership, career development, and personal growth.
The main events of the National Convention take place from October 29 to November 1, 2025. The convention's headquarters are the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Southern FFA’s trip, running from October 28th to October 31st, is structured to maximize their time in the city, ensuring they attend key general sessions, compete, and participate in unique tours and workshops. During these sessions students learned the importance of not allowing the opinions of others to impede themselves from success, and to step out of their shells to grow.
During their trip, they also got to see Ella Langley in concert, tour the Ro-lin Farm, Ms. Meeks (Agriculture Educator/ FFA Advisor) quoted “It was great to see large equipment up close and personal, especially because Southeast Ohio does not have a large-scale facility where farmers can take their corn and soybeans to be sold.”. They toured Paws and Claws, Marcy Evans (FFA Officer) quoted “There was a lot of exotic animals that we normally wouldn't see just out in the wild, it was a great experience and I would love to go again.” Not only was this trip fun but it also taught students the importance of national convention.
Students explored the massive Career Expo, connecting with representatives from hundreds of colleges and agricultural businesses. This is a crucial opportunity for them to explore potential college paths and future career opportunities in everything from farm management to ag-tech innovation.
The journey to Indianapolis represents a major investment in the students' futures, aligning with the FFA mission to develop premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. Chapter advisors and community supporters play a vital role in making this enriching experience possible.
