By Andi Anderson
The 98th National FFA Convention & Expo made history this year, drawing more than 73,000 attendees to downtown Indianapolis and creating an estimated $41 million economic impact for the city. The week-long event celebrated agricultural education, leadership, and community service, marking one of the largest gatherings in FFA’s history.
FFA members, proudly wearing their signature blue jackets, filled major venues across Indianapolis, including the Indiana Convention Center, Lucas Oil Stadium, and the State Fairgrounds.
More than 3,000 students and delegates participated in 28 community service projects, demonstrating FFA’s strong commitment to giving back. One notable project involved braiding over 70,000 feet of paracord into 1,541 dog leashes for Indy Humane through the Living to Serve initiative.
The convention also served as a learning hub for students and educators. More than 13,000 participants attended 141 workshops designed to expand their knowledge in agriculture, leadership, and technology.
Among them were 39 teacher-focused sessions and 102 workshops tailored to student development.
The Expo Hall featured more than 300 exhibitors from industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, technology, and education. Nearby, over 30 vendors joined the ShopFFA Mega Store, where attendees could purchase official FFA merchandise.
The event concluded with recognition ceremonies at Lucas Oil Stadium, where 5,161 members received the prestigious American FFA Degree and 245 were honored with the Honorary American FFA Degree.
The record-breaking turnout highlights FFA’s growing influence in shaping future agricultural leaders while strengthening connections within the national farming community.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-paul-hartley
Categories: Indiana, Rural Lifestyle