INDIANAPOLIS (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: Agribusines 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.
FFA member Bailey Anderson from Indiana talked with Susan Littlefield about her time at the conference:
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
Kansas, cont.
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.
To learn more about the National FFA Organization, visit www.ffa.org, and to learn more about the Next Gen Conference, visit www.ffa.org/participate/next–
