Texas FFA Members Provided More Convention Workshop Opportunities Than Ever Before
Monday, July 17, 2023 | Author: Vala Jenkins, Waco-Midway FFA
At the 95th Annual Texas FFA Convention, members were provided with more agricultural education and leadership development workshop opportunities than ever before.
Seventeen workshops were set to provide tools to focus on specific lessons, relevant issues, and professional development for the more than 16,000 Texas FFA members who attended the event.
Thousands of members took advantage of the offered development opportunity. They attended one of the selections, including workshops facilitated by FFA alumni, agricultural leaders, and motivational speakers to learn tangible skills that strengthen themselves and their chapters.
"State convention workshops never fail," said Reese Royce, East Central FFA. "The skills and knowledge I took away from the workshop I attended have equipped me to lead my team this year."
In the well-attended workshop, "Great Minds Are Not All the Same," presented by Dr. Temple Grandin, members were given definitions and examples of different thinkers and discussed how they could all work together.
"It was a great experience," said Emily Koch, Caldwell FFA member. "I have always wanted to attend a Temple Grandin workshop, and she answered all my questions."
"The Future of Ag, John Deere, and You," presented by Sydney Miller and Ashleigh Fleming with John Deere, spoke on how students find their place and can fit into the future of agriculture.
"It was important for me to attend this workshop because I was able to learn how John Deere is utilizing and expanding their technology to decrease costs to the farmer while still achieving the same yield, which then can be passed on to the consumer," said Logan Maddox, Dawson FFA member.
Other topics discussed in workshops included how to grow confidence, be a leader, use your skills to be an ag advocate and instill change within your community.
"I think it's important to have kids bring lessons from the workshops back to a chapter because many of our kids don't get the chance to come to convention," Hooks FFA advisor Stephanie Loe said. "Many of the kids are new at the school, and these lessons help teach them leadership skills and expectations going forward."
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Reporter: Vala Jenkins, Waco-Midway FFA
Photographers: Vanessa Ekstrom, Clear Falls FFA and Mark Borden, Palmer FFA
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