10/27/08 FFA national convention

More than 550 Idahoans are back in the Gem State today after spending part of last week in Indianapolis for the Future Farmers of America annual convention. Despite the economic concerns schools still make an effort to get their students to the convention and for good reason says FFA's Julie Adams. ADAMS "It is not just a social gathering. There are actual competitive events here. There are educational opportunities, there are workshops, things like that have been consistently approved by the National Association of Secondary School Principals. It is part of their education." Today's FFA is an evolving and changing group. Latino membership is up and growing. So to are the urban chapters. ADAMS "And we're not just for rural students who live on farms. We have rural students who don't live on farms but everyone has the ability to pick activity that's going to resonate with them." Today's FFA counts over 507 thousand members. ADAMS "If that trend holds that next year will be the all time membership record for the National FFA organization." The high water membership mark was set in 1976-77. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott