FFA students and students interested in FFA filled the auditorium at the FFA Ignite Conference held Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center (PREEC) in Scottsbluff. The leadership conference is designed to introduce agricultural education students in grades 7, 8, or 9 to FFA and its opportunities.
“This is an opportunity for them to go beyond what's in their classroom and get some experience and a connection to State FFA officers who are leaders for Nebraska across all of our chapters,” said Donnie Wolters, Nebraska State FFA leadership program manager. “Giving them a chance to meet and learn from their peers and learn from State officers.”
More than 120 students from Nebraska Panhandle area schools roared with applause in the PREEC auditorium as teammates played in the final round of “Rock, Paper, Scissors." It was just one of several interactive activities and hands-on group exercises that help students step out of their comfort zone and network with students from other chapters. The student workshops were led by Nebraska State FFA officers.
“We started Ignite (Conference) about three years ago, so when I was a freshman, I never actually had the opportunity to be part of the workshops,” said Carson Reiman, Nebraska State FFA President from Gothenburg. “This day is all about learning and getting to know how FFA can help them on their FFA journey and in life.”
The IGNITE Conference is an intro to FFA, getting 7th-9th graders interested in FFA and starting them on their FFA journey. The officers at the conference discussed the opportunities available in FFA and the agricultural industry. The workshops focus on leadership principles, team building, and communication skills. Interactive activities help students step out of their comfort zones and network with peers from other chapters. There is career exposure for upcoming fall milestones, such as Leadership Development Events and Career Development Events. Another important workshop dealt with resilience. The workshop, “Bounce,” taught them what to do when things don’t work out and how to bounce back. They also learned about goal setting and how it's as important for a 7th grader as it is for an adult. Skills they will use for the rest of their lives.
“Today they're learning and hopefully enjoying their experiences about the importance of having a personal brand. Who you are, be your brand, own that, and how that can translate into being a leader,” Wolters said.
The FFA Ignite Conference was held in Scottsbluff, Kearney, and Firth. For more information on FFA and how to get involved, visit your local chapter.
