by Zach DeBruin

Junior Josie Branderhorst, Sophomores Paige Wood, Jessica Jacobs, Brady North, Austin Godwin, Dayton Boell, and Freshmen Maddie Samson, Sara Dudley, and Jordon DeVries were the chosen students from the Diamond Trail FFA chapter tagged along with PCM FFA Adviser Amber Samson on her trip to National Convention in Louisville, Ky. on October 28 through 30.
National Convention is an annual event where students from FFA chapters around the nation, the Virgin Islands , and Puerto Rico come together to compete in career development events, participate in a career show, meet other students interested in agriculture like they are and see agriculture from around the nation.
The convention was 13 hours away on a charter bus filled with students and adviser from around the area. Luckily, until 2024, National Convention will be held a bit closer to home: Indianapolis, Ind.
The convention is a character- and career- building trip that active FFA members have the opportunity to attend . Students from every corner of the country join together in many ways to have a fun and productive time for all who cooperate.
“I think it’s important because they get to meet other students involved in ag they get hands-on experience in networking skills and employability skills,” said Samson.
If you are an active FFA member and are interested in going to National Convention in the future, you had better get to work now. To be chosen to go on this excursion with the chapter, you have to have “points” built up from previous FFA activities. Samson has a system of points set up for all who participate in anything agricultural.
Until next year, in the aspect of dancing and socializing, the students of Diamond Trail FFA will just have to hold their horses. Samson and the students are prepping for their epic entrance to National Convention 2016.