SAINT PAUL — 3,603 FFA members gather for the 88th Minnesota FFA Convention at the University of Minnesota (UMN).
Eighteen FFA members completed interviews to serve as a 2017-2018 Minnesota FFA State Officer. The six-member team will be announced during the fourth general session at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26.
Workshops began for students as they arrived for convention. The UMN Agricultural Education department hosted an invitation-only “Change Lives: Teach Ag Ed” workshop. Campus organizations provided displays for students with student representatives to interact with the FFA members. Additionally, Farmland, a documentary, was shown in the St. Paul Student Center.
First year agricultural education students completed in the annual Best Informed Greenhand competition, hosted and sponsored by the Zumbrota Mazeppa FFA Chapter. Winners of the contest will be announced during the fourth general session on Tuesday.
The Minnesota Farm Bureau hosted the annual discussion meet competition. Fifteen students competed in the contest and addressed topics including career opportunities in agriculture and efficient farming stewardship. Winners of the discussion meet will be announced at the fourth general session on Tuesday.
The convention officially began with the talent show and reflection program at Mariucci Arena on the UMN campus. The Mountain Lake FFA chapter received top honors with their talent act. Session attendees heard from Valerie Earley, Minnesota native and the National FFA Central Region Vice President.
State Vice President, Katie Rogers, delivered her retiring address, “More Than Me,” and encouraged students to give everything they have to love and serve others. The 2016-2017 Minnesota FFA State Officer team concluded the session with their reflections of the year.
Visit mnffa.org for more details about the 88th Minnesota FFA convention. Follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or watch the general sessions mnffafoundation.org/livestream
— Minnesota FFA
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