Bureau Valley attends National FFA Convention
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| BV FFA members and teacher Willard Mott attended the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis Oct. 1-2. Pictured are Mott (from left), Tyler Rumbold, Robert Miller, Kody Thomas, Brittany McCune, Josh Knobloch, Tyler Kennedy, Richard Brummel, Brad Sanden, Sam Lowers, Seth Ross, Donna McCune and Tanner Schoff. (Photo contributed) |
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On Oct. 1, the Bureau Valley FFA departed from the high school to Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention. Bureau Valley took 12 students — Ryan Haney, Josh Knobloch, Seth Ross, Richard Brummel, Tyler Kennedy, Bobby Miller, Donna McCune, Brittany McCune, Tanner Schoff, Brad Sanden, Sam Lowers and Kody Thomas. The students arrived late Tuesday night and awoke early Wednesday morning for seven students to present the tractor restoration skit to the Chevron Delo judges.
The Bureau Valley FFA enjoyed the opening session on Wednesday afternoon with keynote speaker, Mike Rowe, from the TV show “Dirty Jobs.” The FFA members also enjoyed the National FFA Band as Ryan Haney was the first chair trumpet player, and he even got a solo. Later that evening, the FFA members opted to eat at one of their favorite restaurants, Buffalo Wild Wings.
On Thursday, the FFA members enjoyed more sessions listening to retiring officer addresses and keynote speakers. Bureau Valley FFA went to the Career Show and talked to colleges and agriculture companies and spoke with FFA sponsors. Another favorite of the Bureau Valley FFA was the FFA Mall. They could purchase their favorite FFA attire, western wear, John Deere memorabilia, and much more. The Tractor Restoration Team attended a Chevron-sponsored dinner and listened to Chevron executives speak, and the Tractor Restoration Team even got to meet the race car driver, Mario Andretti. During the dinner, other FFA members that were not on the Tractor Restoration Team, saw Mike Rowe on the street and got to meet him.
On Friday, the FFA members first attended the 8 a.m. session but left early to go to the Chevron Delo Tractor Restoration Contest awards ceremony. The ceremony was filled with suspense. Although the Bureau Valley FFA put forth a tremendous effort, they were not in the top three. The Tractor Restoration Team was not discouraged a bit. They now look forward to next year.
Later that evening, the FFA members attended a hypnotist show, which they said was the best part of the trip. The Bureau Valley FFA watched various FFA members become hypnotized, including Bureau Valley FFA member Donna McCune. The hypnotized FFA members performed crazy stunts, such as singing, dancing and Jeopardy.
The Bureau Valley FFA members awoke early Saturday morning to walk to Lucas Oil Stadium to watch Reece Pierson and Daniel Smith receive their American FFA Degrees, the highest honor one can receive in the National FFA Organization. After the boys received their American Degrees, the FFA members went to the Indianapolis Circle Center Mall to do some shopping. The FFA members attended the final session of the National FFA Convention to see the new national officers sworn in. The FFA members departed Indianapolis around 5 p.m. Although the members were in Indianapolis for a long time and were very tired when they got home, the FFA members had a blast.
