FFA Next Gen Conference connects students to ag careers in Pa.

The National FFA Organization recently hosted its second Next Gen Conference of the year in Philadelphia.

Next Gen Conferences provide FFA student members with a look into career opportunities within the industry of agriculture. The June conference brought together 73 high school sophomores, juniors and seniors to learn more about the value of agricultural education through career exploration sessions, industry roundtables, and tours.

The Next Gen Conference: Agricultural Education tour locations in Philadelphia included:

• Walter B. Saul High School for Agriscience
• Elmwood Park Zoo
• Milton Hershey School
• Lampeter-Strausburg High School

Each tour stop was carefully planned to provide a learning experience for the student attendees, one of which was the Milton Hershey School, founded by chocolatier Milton Hershey and his wife. Each student who attends Milton Hershey School graduates with at least one industry-related certification through the school’s Career and Technical Education Program. The school also boasts agricultural-related programming such as The Animal Center, The Horticulture Center, The Environmental Center, and The Ag Operations Center, collectively allowing students to learn about the different aspects of agriculture.

“A key component of the three-circle model is agricultural education,” said Ashli Weinrich, program specialist, Advocacy, Literacy & Ag-Based Experiences, Programs and Events Division, National FFA Organization. “Through this conference, we were able to showcase how students’ learnings in school and participation in FFA, agricultural education and Supervised Agricultural Experiences are actively preparing them for their future careers. With over a million FFA members across the country, it’s so important to continue having Next Gen Conferences to introduce our young learners to the wide variety of job opportunities in agriculture.”

The 73 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 landscape installation placements, greenhouse management, vegetable production, and nursery operations.

The following 73 high school students were selected to attend the conference in Philadelphia through a competitive application process.

Alaska
Layla Buzzard, Palmer FFA

California
Arwen Adams, Susanville-Lassen FFA
Gabrielle Ferrie, Atascadero FFA
Maddison Holt, San Luis Obispo FFA
Tyler Swayze, Susanville-Lassen FFA
Viviana Velazquez, Grass Valley – Bear River FFA

Colorado
Natalie Diaz, Bennett FFA
Kaleb Kilcoyne, Cedaredge FFA
Macy Weber, Cedaredge FFA

Connecticut
Sophia Latour, Wamogo FFA

Delaware
Caleigh Sweetman, Smyrna FFA

Georgia
Abigail Griffin, Berrien County FFA

Iowa
Sophie Berends, Aplington-Parkersburg FFA
Caden Bernauer, DeWitt Central FFA
Maison Copp, Aplington-Parkersburg FFA
Jordan Jones, North Scott FFA
Alice Nicklaus, Calamus-Wheatland FFA

Idaho
Jacee Fuller, Filer FFA
Randi Hibbard, Bonners Ferry FFA

Illinois
Brynn Martin, Tri-Valley FFA

Indiana
Meredith Chaney, Fishers FFA
Logan McConnell, Greenfield-Central FFA
Ethan Sheets, Clinton Central FFA

Kansas
Erica Lieb, Pike Valley FFA
Kennedy Moreland, Junction City FFA

Kentucky
Adam Blanford, Marion County FFA
Shelby Howard, Lincoln County FFA

Louisiana
Delaisha Beckwood, North Iberville FFA
Jo’Anna Russo, North Iberville FFA

Mississippi
Mckinly Cooley, Brooklyn FFA

Missouri
Ryatt Haggerman, Versailles FFA
Lily Hillebrand, Montgomery Country R-II FFA
Abigayle Lett, Odessa FFA
Reed Pottebaum, Montgomery County R-II FFA
Bryce Winchester, Neosho FFA

New Mexico
Samantha Shorty, Shiprock FFA

New York
Mark Hoffman Jr., Vernon-Verona-Sherill FFA
Madeline Snider, Holland Patent FFA

North Dakota
Harley Feiring, Golden Valley County FFA
Acelynn Lagerquist, Central Cass FFA
Abigail Lee, Carrington FFA
Haley McLeod, Enderlin FFA

Ohio
Addison Asher, Talawanda-Butler Tech FFA
Jill Garland, Talawanda-Butler Tech FFA
Payton Kolb, Talawanda-Butler Tech FFA
Sara Rhoades, Brookville-MVCTC FFA

Oklahoma
Ian Morris, Yukon FFA

Pennsylvania
Kristin Davis, Northeast Bradford FFA

South Carolina
Sara Corn, South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture FFA
Amelia Morris, South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture FFA
Savannah Smith, South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture FFA

South Dakota
Rachel Brown, Bridgewater Emery FFA
Bobbi Eide, Gettysburg FFA
Allie Hoekman, Northwestern Area FFA
Zetta Kuhl, Hot Springs FFA

Tennessee
Skyla Blalock, Monterey FFA
Hallee Kaye Jones, Hendersonville FFA
Sophia Stutts, Huntland FFA
Cole Walker, Monterey FFA

Texas
Elliana Crews, Clements FFA

Utah
Lucy Draper, Delta FFA

Washington
Baylee Appleford, Walla Walla FFA
Carolina Morfin-Martinez, Pomeroy FFA
Cedar Stegall, Waitsburg FFA
Teegan Timmons, Walla Walla FFA

Wisconsin
Madison Bowen, Ellsworth FFA
Genevieve Cady, Ellsworth FFA
Kendal Kluge, Baraboo FFA
Alletta Meijer, Glenwood City FFA
Harper Rettke, Shawano FFA
Jakayla Steinhorst, Luxemburg-Casco FFA
Madisyn Weinig, Shawano FFA

West Virginia
Jaiden Fordyce, Upshur County FFA

Next Gen Conferences occur three times this year in different states, each with the goal of preparing the next generation of leaders who will feed, fuel, clothe, and sustain the world through educational and career exploration opportunities.

CHS was a Level 1 Corporate Partner for this Next Gen Conference. To learn more about the National FFA Organization and to learn more about the Next Gen Conference, click here. The next conference will take place in September in Fargo, North Dakota, and will be focused on emerging technology.