The miles between Nebraska and the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo were filled with opportunities for the Bruning-Davenport FFA, McCool Junction FFA, Heartland FFA, Freeman FFA, Falls City FFA and Palmyra FFA Chapters. Members and advisors enhanced their travels by learning about dairy production, lavender farming, horticulture, food service, antique tractors and American veterans.
The journey began at Shatto Dairy, a 300-head dairy operation near Kansas City, Mo. After touring, students had the chance to sample dairy products and ask questions.
“Their milk samples were anything from root beer flavored to plain vanilla to cotton candy,” says Maggie Vyhnalek, Bruning-Davenport FFA advisor.
The next pit stop was at Battlefield Lavender in Centralia, Mo. The operation boasts 16 different varieties of lavender, specialty crops and beehives. FFA members experienced lavender production from the field all the way to the items sold in the gift shop.
Free samples were enjoyed by all during the tour at Stonie’s Sausage, a jerky processing facility.
“They actually let our kids be some of the employees for a second and try to make some snack sticks,” says Vyhnalek. “They quickly learned it’s not as easy as it looks.”
The American Tractor Museum in Perryville, Mo., was the favorite stop of the tour for Bruning-Davenport FFA member Gatlin Hindricks.
“There were a lot of really rare tractors there and it was cool to see,” he says.
The final stop on the road to convention was the Missouri National Veterans Memorial. FFA members toured an exact replica of the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C, which gave them a glimpse of our nation’s capital.
In the days to come, the journey will continue. Members will round out their national convention experience with tours at Tuttle Orchards, Abbotts Candy, a donkey farm and a local Amish market around Indianapolis.
Incorporating educational tours into the convention experience is highly recommended by these FFA advisors.
“Our goal is to give our students as many opportunities as possible. Why not use this as another opportunity to give them these experiences?” Vyhnalek says.
