Imagine being surrounded by a live audience and receiving five minutes to discuss something you’re passionate about. For several FFA members, this opportunity became a reality through participating in the Student Showcase during the 95th National FFA Convention & Expo.
Making its debut this convention, nine sessions will feature students and chapters that have excelled in their agriscience fair research projects and supervised agricultural experiences (SAEs). It also aims to spotlight members’ Living to Serve projects, Hall of States exhibits, Career Development Event demonstrations, talent performances and more.
“For many, this a brand-new experience,” says Ashli Weinrich, who serves as one of the Student Showcase directors. “We have members from lots of different states and agriculture looks very different to all of them. This allows them to get outside of their bubbles and sparks new ways of thinking.”
In addition to giving a short presentation, participants answer questions posed by a panel of industry leaders and business professionals. This element is designed to foster deeper connections between FFA and its corporate partners. It also provides members with the chance to elaborate more on their projects and strengthen real-world skills.
“I love the format of this event,” says Olivia Shike, a member of the Toiono Unity FFA Chapter in Sadorus, Ill. “We don’t have anything like it in my home state, so being able to speak onstage to a large group of people – without the pressure of competition – was really neat.”
“A lot of kids might not be able to do what we just did, so it’s cool to be able to experience something like this before we’re in college,” says Aledo FFA Chapter member Samantha Sullivan of Aledo, Texas. “Not many people can say they’ve spoken on a national stage, but now we can,” added her teammate Rebecca Sullivan.
According to Weinrich, the ultimate goal of the event is to highlight a broad range of interest areas and spotlight members from diverse backgrounds and experience levels. For members like Nathan Hammerschmitt le Gul from the Essex FFA Chapter in Hawthorne, Mass., this opportunity also serves a greater purpose.
“Overall, this is a passion project,” says Hammerschmitt le Gul. “I would encourage interested members to get involved in their communities and seek out help from others. By doing this, a project could become something larger than you ever think it could be.”
