A few select members from our Buford Chapter from Oct-31 through Nov-3 went to the famed annual FFA National Convention in Indianapolis where they attended workshops, general sessions, a Lainey Wilson concert, and a FFA-based rodeo! This adventure connected the Buford chapter with both Lancaster and the Indian Land FFA which allowed new friendships and relationships to grow between the three groups. 

Once embarking on the short flight to Indianapolis from the CDL airport the group was met with harsh winter weather and even saw some snow on their way to the hotel where they would be staying for the week. The group then went to the convention center in the morning where they would attend a workshop called ¨Knowing your Worth¨ which entailed communicating with others attending the workshop, making new friends and of course getting to know your worth. After the workshop, the group visited what the convention had to offer which was the FFA MALL and the Expo where you could buy FFA-themed clothes as well as support businesses associated with the FFA and simultaneously meet well-connected people with colleges and programs that could support the dreams of the members attending. 

After this amazing opportunity, there was a Lainey Wilson concert where the members attending the trip could interact, sing, and see Lainey in person. The next morning the group attended another general session where they learned valuable information about the future of the FFA amongst many other things. After the session and a flavor-filled lunch, the group met up with the Lancaster and Indian Land chapters to attend the FFA Rodeo filled with fire, excitement, worry for the participator, and fun as each rider was bucked off of their horses and bulls. 

Finally, at the end of their trip, the group returned to the Expo to do some final networking and shopping before the convention was over. After this, they embarked on the journey back home. In conclusion, the FFA trip to Indianapolis proved to be an enjoyable knowledge-filled experience for all FFA members who attended, filled with Chapter fun, new relationships with those they had never talked to before, and most importantly adventure as they saw new things and did even more.

WHAT IS THE COW WORKSHOP?

The COW workshop is an FFA officer workshop that took place at Loris High School this month attended by many members of our own Buford FFA chapter and many other FFA chapters in the state. Morgan Watford, our current 2023-2024 president of the Buford FFA Chapter states “I participated in the COW workshop so I could help grow as a president. Me going meant that I was able to bring something back to school to help our chapter be overall better, which we did.“ The particular involvement of the Buford FFA in COW means so much more than gaining in the realization of goals, but instead to the future of the chapter and how SMART goals (a way to set goals that were communicated to the officers during the workshop) could be established in the development of the Buford Agriculture Department and especially propel our school into better leadership and more well-rounded students.

WHY DID WE EVEN PARTICIPATE? 

With all points considered, the Buford FFA Chapter´s participation in this workshop led our officers to obtain important information about goals and leadership that are primarily needed in running a successful chapter, and most importantly life skills that they will carry with them throughout their lives. Lastly, our 2023-2024 FFA President Morgan Watford stated that this was necessary to ¨make events¨ and use leadership to be a prosperous chapter. In conclusion, the Buford FFA is en route to becoming a larger name in our state and hopefully making our school a better and more promising place one step at a time. 

Images taken by: Blake Gilmore