The Salina chapter is attending the National FFA Convention for the first time since 2018 when their own advisor went her senior year here at Central. 

Advisor Kaitlyn Elder, is the leader of the group by default, but FFA has a deeper meaning to her beyond its requirement.

“So any agriculture teacher, technically, just kind of becomes the FFA advisor,” Elder said. “But ultimately, it was my ag teacher at Central, however many years ago that was, she inspired me to do that.”

The FFA National Convention is held in Indianapolis, Indiana from October 29 – November 1. 

FFA members decided to attend the convention this year because the current junior class set the goal to go during their time in high school, FFA advisor Kaitlyn Elder said.

“They (juniors) wanted to go,” Elder said. “I said, ideally before your senior year. Let’s do it, because our seniors and juniors now, they have built this program and done an amazing job.”

Junior vice-president Ashlyn Calhoun said she looks forward to experiencing things that she would not see anywhere else.

“You can learn a lot of leadership skills there,” Calhoun said. “You meet so many people because there’s chapters from every state there.”

Calhoun is also looking forward to learning new things to bring back to their own FFA chapter.

“We will meet a lot of different people who have done the same competitions and have the same experiences as us,” Calhoun said. “We’re going to see their perspectives as well as seeing the National FFA officers and gain leadership experience.” 

Being a member of FFA has allowed Calhoun the opportunity to grow in many life skills.

“FFA has greatly improved my leadership skills as well as public speaking,” Calhoun said, “and has made me a more confident leader overall.”

Junior Jaiden Seaman said that since joining FFA he has gained more skills than just those involving agriculture.

“I think it’s made me, as a person, more professional,” Seaman said. “When I first got into it I thought it was just farming when, really, it’s a lot more.”

Elder said that she thinks the chapter will come home with new ideas and have expanded horizons from what they have learned at the local level.

“I think they will be more motivated and see what they can do just outside of Salina,” Elder said. “They can see what kids in California or Alaska are doing, and maybe bring home some ideas that they can do in their own chapters.”