Et cetera : VS FFA Attends 91st National FFA Convention

By: Shelby McDonald, Co-Reporter October 24th the Vinton- Shellsburg FFA Chapter left the high school around 6:3- am to go to national convention Indianapolis Indiana. We had 16 students attend this year's convention, 3 amazing chaperones: Susie Henkle, Denise Evans, and Marge McDonald, and our 2 advisors. We stopped about halfway in Alpha, Illinois take a tour of FS Growmark Headquarters, where we learned about each part of the big building we were in. When we arrived in Brownsburg, Indiana we stopped at our hotel to unpack and ate at a local restaurant before we went to the Garth Brooks concert at the Lucas Oil Stadium. On the 25th we got up bright and early to head to the first general session, where we got to listen to Mr. Kyle Scheele, speak about his life. After session we went to the career fair and the shopping area. Then it was off to Beasley’s Orchard, our second tour of the trip. We concluded our day with a very nice meal at Boulder Creek and a game of bowling at the local bowling alley. The night ended with Mr. Forsyth carrying out his end of a losing bet by jumping in the pool in his clothes. On the 26th we started our day off at the convention center attending the 4th general session where we got to hear some motivational words from keynote speaker, Corporate VP of Microsoft Philanthropies, Mary Snapp.Then packed up the vans and headed to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, our third tour of the trip, where we got to ride around the track, kiss the bricks and take a walk through the museum. Once back down town we then walked to the Bankers Life Stadium where we attended the 7th general session and got to listen to Iowa’s National Officer, Erica Baier’s emotional retiring address along with Judson Liapply’s message expressed through his musical interpretation. The 27th was the last day of convention. The morning we went to lucas oils stadium to watch ben Eden receive his American degree. Then we were back on our way home, where we got home around 5:30. During this trip we learned that we are Just One!