Indianapolis, Ind. (Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024/National FFA Organization) – National FFA developed the Next Gen Conference to give students across the country the opportunity to explore a variety of career paths before they graduate high school. Next Gen Conferences go in-depth in a different subset of the more than 350 careers in agriculture each year. This year, from March 5-8 in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas, the Next Gen Conference: Agricultural Communications will engage high school students in hands-on sessions, round tables, and tours to explore emerging trends, issues, and opportunities in the field of agricultural communications.

During the week, students will also develop a road map that will serve as a blueprint to guide them in taking their next steps after high school graduation.

“The Next Gen Conferences were developed to give our members an opportunity to explore future careers in agriculture,” said Ashli Weinrich, program specialist, advocacy, literacy, and ag-based experiences, National FFA Organization. “This spring conference will help us cultivate future leaders in the communication industry through a week of experiential learning, relevant education, and networking.”

Participants include:

Arizona
Haleigh O’Donnal
Dawson Rice
Peter Groseta
Trenton Castro
California
Jayne LaVigne
Colorado
Maranda Mason
Erin Tempel
Natalie Diaz
Claudia Rhoades
Idaho
Isabelle Penuelas
Joshua Nelson
Illinois
Jasmin Leon
Indiana
Emily Recker
Ellie Taylor
Sophia Shannon
Lauren Argotte
Iowa
Trell Amoss
Katrina Hageman
Natalie Schroeder
Cora Berends
Kansas
Kourtney Dibben
Kentucky
Laney Pease
Elly Hampton
Mollie Goode
Michigan
Myleigh Rohner
Sophia Barnum
Amelia Barnum
Minnesota
Grace Bayerl
Morgan Marketon
Chloe Haack
Missouri
Jaylynn Zerr
Avery Ridgley
Colton Whitney
Meah McCoy
Cash Honeycutt
Preston McMillian
Sophie Geppert
Callie Jennings
Nebraska
Emily Holz
New Mexico
Zia Miller
New York
Breanna Craven
Jack Beyer
North Carolina
Morgan Harrington
North Dakota
Bailey Urlacher
Samantha Burchill
Ohio
Katie Bryant
Jessica Campbell
Emma Brandenburg
Kaylee Jennings
Jill Garland
Addison Roller
Taylor Johnson
Joanna Hamilton
Oklahoma
Brooklyn Matlock
Pennsylvania
Frances Weaver
Remington Weaver
Tennessee
Leilah Crawford
Ariana Mota
Evalena Giles
Alyssa Calamia
Ellie Anderson
Troy Wiliams
Texas
Ryan Stanley
Whitney Kennedy
Ella Allison
Linda Beth Norwood
Tyler Bailey
Wisconsin
Josie Bailey
Sonya Merritt
Abigail Sauvola
Morgan Van Schyndle
Jordan Lamb
Elisha Vogel
Wyoming
Carla Navarro
Hannah Steele

Open to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors, participants were selected through a competitive application process. There will be two additional Next Gen Conferences this year:
Next Gen: Food Products and Processing Systems – June 25-29, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minn.
Next Gen: Environmental Services and Natural Resources Systems – Sept. 10-14, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 945,000 student members as part of 9,163 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

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About Agriculture Future of America
AFA builds bridges for young leaders to foster engagement and innovation in food and agriculture through premier leader and career development experiences. With program participation increasing 28% in the last five years, AFA has provided 26,000 leader development experiences to college leaders and young professionals from more than 200 colleges and universities throughout 43 states since its inception in 1996. AFA has awarded more than $11.5 million in academic and leader development scholarships. For more information about AFA, visit agfuture.org.

About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 945,000 student members as part of 9,163 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook and Twitter.

About National FFA Foundation
The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations, and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders, and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees composed of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA Alumni, the foundation is a separately registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.