Brenden Kleiboeker’s year as Missouri state FFA president is not ending quite as he hoped. He would like to be at the University of Missouri Hearnes Center, surrounded by FFA members and advisors celebrating contest winners, chapter achievements and individual successes.

And yes, he wanted an opportunity to say goodbye. Instead, he will join members online for the first virtual Missouri State FFA Convention.

In February, Missouri state FFA officers gathered to plan for the 92nd annual Missouri State FFA Convention. At that time, everything was normal. Then COVID-19 hit.

Related: Complete coronavirus coverage

“We had another meeting just two weeks later, then schools and universities shut down, but it was only an extended spring break at the time,” Kleiboeker explains. However, as school closures moved past spring, he and his team realized the opportunity for an April convention was gone. So, they decided to postpone the Missouri State FFA Convention.

Still, Kleiboeker says his team “hoped to have an in-person convention later in the year,” but the coronavirus lingered. In April, the group pulled together a series of videos announcing area proficiency award winners to keep members engaged and encouraged. As the state remained closed into May, the young leaders realized they needed to change strategy. They opted to host a virtual convention, and Kleiboeker is excited.

FFA online connection

The Missouri FFA Virtual State Convention spans three days starting June 16. Each evening, the FFA will release videos of five convention sessions prepared by the 2019-20 state FFA officers through the association’s Facebook page and YouTube channel. These sessions include announcing the state’s new chapters, honorary state degree recipients, distinguished service citation, top premier chapters, and state top chapter.

A highlight of the convention will be June 18 with the Stars over Missouri presentation. This award recognizes the top individual in placement, agribusiness and agriscience, along with the Star farmer. In a twist this year, these individuals were interviewed via Zoom by judges with the winners remaining secret until Thursday night.

During four sessions, the 2019-20 state officers will present their reflections on their year of service. While it is not the same as presenting his address to a full stadium surrounded by family and friends, Kleiboeker says the message from each officer is one that will reach members, parents and, who knows, quite possibly the world.

“I want members and parents to be able to get the same convention feel, just like they would if we were at our home back on the Mizzou campus,” he says. “Sit back and listen to those officer reflections. Think about what they have to say. We want FFA members and parents to come out of this with inspiration, but also hope for the future.”

Kleiboeker adds this type of platform opens Missouri FFA to a broader audience. “I hope we can bring the joy and inspiration of FFA to people all across the world through our virtual platform," he says.

What you won’t see online

There will be no contest team results because there were no FFA Leadership Development Events or Career Development Events. This would include judging contests such as livestock, poultry and meats, or communication events such as FFA knowledge, parliamentary procedure or public speaking. It is one area in which Kleiboeker, like many other FFA members, was truly disappointed.

So many chapters start practices for contest teams in the fall. “While I did learn a lot in the classroom, contests provide a hands-on experience,” he says. “These contests allow members to use maybe what they learned in an agronomy class in a contest setting. I know I learned a lot about competing and improving myself through contests.”

But he says it is the camaraderie members will miss the most. “Contests are where I made all my friends in FFA,” Kleiboeker explains. “I did FFA knowledge my freshman year, and the knowledge contest takes half an hour. Then you have the rest of the day to meet people and hang out. Unfortunately, this year they don't get the time to spend the afternoon having lunch with kids from other chapters.”

And, of course, there will not be any crowds. “We are all going to miss that,” Kleiboeker says. “We were hoping to get to see those faces that we were able to meet this last year, see those people that truly made this year as great as it was, all those ag teachers and kids, and parents.”

In addition, the entire team will not appear together. Because of COVID-19 social distancing, the current state FFA officers taped their retiring address in groups of four.

Finally, there will not be any virtual Career Show where FFA members can visit with universities and colleges, along with agriculture businesses to learn about opportunities in agriculture.

FFA’s team effort

A virtual FFA convention is uncharted territory in Missouri, until now.

“The state staff, and all the people who have come together with us to pull this off in roughly a month and a half or two months,” Kleiboeker says, “it’s really been an amazing experience.”

He says developing an entirely new convention platform was not easy, but he hopes FFA members remember the 2020 convention for one reason. “No matter what life throws at you, if you put in the time and the hours and have the dedication, you'll be able to overcome whatever challenge comes your way," he says.

Kleiboeker and his team will install the 2020-21 state FFA officers at 7 p.m. June 17. He will turn over his gavel to the new state FFA president Justin Eddy of Columbia.