KEARNEY, Neb. — Before thousands of FFA members gather in Indianapolis to celebrate their achievements and explore careers in agriculture, younger Nebraska students are igniting a passion for agriculture.
The Nebraska FFA Ignite conference in Kearney brought together seventh, eighth and ninth graders for leadership development, hands-on activities and an introduction to the organization. The event is designed to help younger students understand how FFA, classroom instruction and supervised agricultural experiences work together.
For Hudson Dellevoet, a Nebraska FFA state vice president, that introduction came in eighth grade.
Dellevoet grew up in a family without an agricultural background. His mother is a teacher, and his father is a pastor. An exploratory class at McCook Senior High School introduced him to agriculture and FFA, setting him on a path he had not previously considered.
“It’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” Dellevoet said of his FFA experience.
Now studying agricultural education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Dellevoet hopes to become an ag teacher himself.
He said he hopes younger students leave Ignite with new knowledge, friendships and ideas about what they might want to pursue.
The experience illustrates how agricultural education can reach students who did not grow up on farms or in families involved in agriculture.
Kealey Widdowson, an agriculture teacher at Gibbon, brought 40 students to the conference. She said the event gives younger members a chance to explore FFA and connect with state officers and students from other chapters.
The opportunities extend beyond traditional production agriculture. Widdowson said her students have developed projects ranging from growing and selling sweet corn to painting street numbers to help emergency responders locate homes.
Those projects give students opportunities to apply classroom lessons, develop business and leadership skills and explore potential career paths.
“It’s a great opportunity for them to not only build their leadership skills, but also learn more about FFA,” Widdowson said.
From local projects to the national stage
For Nebraska FFA State President Carson Reiman, a hands-on agricultural project has become a path to national recognition.
Reiman started Reiman Spuds as a high school freshman, planting about an acre of potatoes near Gothenburg. Over the past four years, he has grown three varieties and sold them directly to consumers and through a grocery store.
His project has earned him a place among the national proficiency finalists in the area of potatoes.
Reiman said students need to develop both a strong project and the communication skills to explain their work to judges.
“You have to work on your project, you have to build a strong project, but you also have to be able to answer those questions on it,” Reiman said.
Proficiency awards recognize students for their accomplishments in supervised agricultural experiences, which can include agricultural businesses, employment and research projects.
Reiman’s experience demonstrates how an interest developed in high school can grow into a substantial project, with opportunities to develop practical skills alongside leadership and communication abilities.
He also sees Ignite as an important starting point for younger members.
The conference introduces students to opportunities they can pursue as they become more involved in FFA, from hands-on projects to leadership roles and competitions.
Looking ahead to Indianapolis
The 99th National FFA Convention and Expo is scheduled for Oct. 21-24 in Indianapolis. More than 70,000 members, advisers and supporters are expected to attend.
Organizers plan to award 5,816 American FFA Degrees, the organization’s highest degree of membership. An estimated 3,240 students and delegates are expected to participate in service projects benefiting 27 local nonprofits.
The convention’s Expo will feature opportunities to explore more than 350 careers in agriculture, along with workshops and presentations focused on leadership and personal development.
For students attending Ignite, they were able to interact with national finalists like Reiman and get a glimpse of what happens at the state and national level. Their own paths may begin with an exploratory class, a small agricultural business or a leadership activity, but those experiences can help them identify interests and develop skills that extend well beyond the classroom.
As Nebraska’s FFA members prepare to head to Indianapolis, Ignite is helping introduce the next generation to the opportunities waiting for them.