The 97th National FFA Convention & Expo is providing student members an opportunity to learn about careers in the most unexpected of places. This year, FFA members from across the country attended an agriculture career demonstration day at Crown Hill, Indiana’s oldest and largest cemetery. Demonstrations were led by industry professionals, showing members potential careers in cemetery management, horticulture and arboriculture. They enjoyed games, watching climbing arborists and an equipment demonstration.
Virginia FFA member Eli Wiles says the career day was perfect for his future plans.
“I actually want to work in conservation and maintaining land,” he says, “so this almost goes hand in hand, figuring out what’s the best way to utilize the land and keep it how it’s supposed to be for the people, while people can still enjoy it.”
One activity was led by Crown Hill’s own arboretum director, Carrie Tauscher. Tauscher says she holds ties to FFA and wanted to lead this career day so students would see career opportunities available to them.
“They have opportunities within the green industries that aren’t stereotypical,” Tauscher says. “I do turf grass or I do big construction work. There’s a lot of nuanced subsections within our industry that can really get you excited about your work every single day.”
Montana FFA member Eliza Turek says the experience at Crown Hill even has her eyes open for what her career could hold. “I kind of want to go into computer science, but I also really like natural sciences and I kind of like entomology. It’s kind of making me want to at least double major…because I do care a lot about like the environment and nature.”
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