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The National FFA Convention and Expo will be held in Indianapolis through 2031.

Tom J Bechman 1, Editor, Indiana Prairie Farmer

December 25, 2018

2 Min Read
National FFA Expo
FFA STAYS HERE: The expo that accompanies the National FFA Convention in October is becoming a more important part of the overall event each year.

Bruce Kettler talks a lot about FFA and developing leadership in agriculture. He has good reason to do so. Kettler is the director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, and Indiana FFA Association staff are housed in his department. Recently, he couldn’t hold back his enthusiasm when the National FFA Organization announced an early Christmas present for Indianapolis and Indiana. National FFA officials announced that Indianapolis would host the National FFA Convention and Expo through 2031.

The city was already scheduled to hold the event for the next six years. The extension covers 2025 through 2031.

The announcement is a defining moment for Indiana, Kettler says. “The student-led organization has been pivotal in shaping agriculture’s future leaders, and this convention allows them to experience many new and exciting facets about the industry,” he notes.

Recently, when Indiana Prairie Farmer interviewed Kettler, he underscored how important youth leadership, both in 4-H and FFA, is to Indiana. During a trade mission with Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch to Manitoba last fall, youth leadership was one of the major talking points the Canadians wanted to discuss, Kettler explains. Indiana is growing a hard-earned reputation for working with and developing youth through ag education and 4-H programs.

The National FFA noted in its release naming Indianapolis as the host city for the National FFA Convention and Expo through 2031 that Atlanta and Indianapolis were the final contenders. Atlanta also put together an impressive package to host the convention. When all factors were weighed, however, the recommendation was to stay in Indianapolis through 2031.

Kettler has another reason to be so interested in and proud of landing the National FFA Convention in Indiana for an extended amount of time. He was a National FFA vice president in 1982-83 after serving as Ohio FFA’s president in 1981-82.

About the Author(s)

Tom J Bechman 1

Editor, Indiana Prairie Farmer

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