Conferences & Conventions
Each year, the Georgia FFA Association puts on State FFA Convention for FFA members across the state to come and participate in. Events at convention include: CDE Finals Hall, Agriscience Fair, Career Expo, Talent Show, Sessions, Keynote Speakers, Concert, Community Service Projects, Teach Ag Workshops and more!
National FFA Convention
Every year, FFA members nationwide converge on the National FFA Convention & Expo to celebrate their accomplishments and find inspiration for their next steps. Motivational keynote speakers, energetic concerts, fulfilling workshops and a sweeping expo floor bustling with agricultural education and industry opportunities will have you snapping pics and grabbing videos of all of the experiences you’ll remember forever.
National Qualifiers
Farm Business Management Team: Lexi Pritchard, Emma Champer, Victor Huang, & Lyle Burns
American Star in Agriscience: Marin Lonnee
Gold Emblem Chapter Status
Interested in Attending?
You must return the form below and the cost of the airfare deposit which totals $50 to Mr. Collins or Mrs. Begnaud as soon as possible to secure a spot for the trip. Spots will be reserved on a first come, first serve basis. A second check will be due by June 15th for the cost of the hotel totaling $265. All checks need to be made out to OCHS FFA. The remainder of costs for registration will be due in September. The remaining costs including food and extra spending money will be handled by the student and he/she should bring the appropriate amount the day we leave for the trip.
We have estimated the expenses below:
$300 Hotel Cost in Indianapolis
$50 Convention Registration Fee
$150 Food Costs
$50 Extra Spending Money (more or less as necessary)
$205 Airfare Travel Costs
Washington Leadership Conference
Each year, FFA members from all over the United States travel to Washington, D.C., to attend the Washington Leadership Conference (WLC). During the five-day event, attendees learn how to become effective leaders by learning their purpose, how to value people, how to take action and how to serve others.
FFA members leave WLC with the knowledge and the confidence to act in ways that help their schools, community and their country.
WLC is no ordinary leadership experience. You will spend a week putting these skills into practice as you make new friends from across the United States and tour our nation's capital. This action-packed week will help you gain self-confidence and leadership skills to take back to your FFA chapter and share with other members.
The capstone event of WLC is the civic engagement activity, where participants apply what they have learned at the conference to a real, hands-on service activity.
WLC Curriculum
The WLC curriculum is based on four tenants: ME, WE, DO and SERVE. Building upon each of these four tenants gets students to the overall objective of the conference which is becoming an engaged citizen who can make a measurable positive difference in their community.
Each of these tenants are taught during a full dedicated day of the conference and through the context of our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. WLC provides FFA members with a premier leadership experience while exposing them to the rich history that DC has to offer.
ME – To start the continuum in becoming an engaged citizen we must first start with ourselves. Day one of WLC pushes students to look inward at the unique offerings they bring to the table. Students identify what their top six strengths are (Things we are great at) along with their top six passions (Things we love to do.) Students are then gently introduced to what needs of the world are. Students then combine their strengths and passions, and start to think about what it would look like if we combined our strengths and passions to meet a need. For example; a student may identify “organization” as a strength, and “basketball” as a passion. They may then be made aware of the need of increased funding for cancer research. That student could then organize a basketball camp to support cancer research. Students are also walked through developing a purpose statement.
WE – Once students have a strong sense of who they are, and develop purpose statements we can then move to WE. No great task was ever accomplished alone. We teach students that we must bring people together to help any cause. When we bring different people together we must also appreciate, embrace, and celebrate the rich diversity that people who look, think, or were raised differently than us bring to the table. Thursday of WLC is dedicated to looking at diversity. We look at diversity as much more than race and ethnicity. We teach diversity through the context of our visit to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum where diversity of thought is a cornerstone.
SERVE – The pinnacle of the conference happens on Saturday as we take part in our service day project. In the past five years the service projects have been very different in order to best serve the needs of those in Washington DC.
On this first day students travel to Arlington National Cemetery where thousands of military service members are laid to rest. Those interred at Arlington knew their strengths, had a strong passion, and ultimately gave their lives in service of our country. Arlington National Cemetery gets students in the mindset of what purpose, strengths, and passions look like. Students are also taken on a night tour of monuments, where they see further examples of key figures who lived a life of purpose.
DO – Friday of the conference is dedicated to Advocacy. Once we know ourselves, and value other people, only then can we truly advocate. Students learn advocacy through the context of experiencing the Newseum – DC’s highest rated museum dedicated to the history of news, and our first amendment right to speak. Students learn advocacy through the context of visiting the U.S. Capitol building – where advocacy can lead to issues facing the nation being heard, considered, debated and written into law. Within the conference curriculum students develop an advocacy plan that will help them advocate for a cause they are passionate about upon their return home.
Other Important Information
The Washington Leadership Conference is staffed by facilitators who are current college students and have a passion for student development. These facilitators go through a robust training on how to effectively teach students and facilitate the program throughout the summer.
WLC is the pinnacle leadership conference offered by FFA to any and all members that are able to attend. In the past three years, the first four weeks of WLC have sold out within four days of registration opening due to high demand. WLC has a participation maximum of 370 students per week.
Summer Leadership Camp
$100 Registration Fee
Who can go to camp?
Any dues-paid member of a Georgia FFA or FCCLA chapter who would be a good representative of their chapter and school. All students must attend with their chapter - no individual registrations are accepted.
Graduated senior FFA or FCCLA members who graduated in the current year may attend. Anyone who graduated high school before the current year may not participate as a member.
What's included in the registration fee?
Cost includes all meals, lodging, programs, and a t-shirt.
There are a few things at camp that cost extra, such as snacks from the canteen, craft kits in the craft shop, and ammunition at the shooting range.
Free Time Activities
Camp offers many activities including: Pool, canoes, paddleboats, crafts, canteen, tennis, miniature golf, ping pong, and fishing. There are also some adventure activities available including the Mega Slip and Slide, Zip Line, Climbing Wall, Shooting Sports, and Horseback Riding.
Team of the Week
There are two "Team of the Week" awards which will be awarded on Thursday night:
1. Competition Team of the Week. Throughout the week, teams earn points by competing in various events. At the end of the week, the team with the most points earns the title "Team of the Week." The competitions include team events such as softball, volleyball, swim meet, relay race, and the obstacle course. There are also individual competitions such as tennis, miniature golf, ping pong, basketball, crafts, soccer kick, football toss, quiz bowl, fishing, skeet shooting, archery, and rifle shooting. Only dues-paid FFA or FCCLA members can compete in the Team of the Week competitions. High School Seniors that graduate in the spring can compete during that summer. Children and adults are not permitted to compete. Advisors will receive detailed rules and explanations when they arrive at camp. There are tentative rules included in the Advisor Guide.
2. Leadership Team of the Week. Teams are evaluated by other teams and the staff throughout the week on leadership, teamwork, sportsmanship, and attitude. The team that best displays the overall values of SLC will win Leadership Team of the Week.
Summer Leadership Camp is a week-long camp experience just for FFA and FCCLA members in Georgia.
We believe that FFA and FCCLA students are the best, and they have incredible leadership potential. We want to help you reach your potential as a leader, and help you have the time of your life in the process!
SLC is one of the least expensive camps in the country (just Google around and see!) but we know that it's still tough to pay for camp. We encourage you to work with your chapter to do fundraisers and ask for scholarships from your community to help pay for camp.
Because this is Leadership Camp and a school function, we have strict rules. It is critical that you are aware of these rules before camp and understand the consequences of not following the rules.
Parents:
Step 1: Complete the online form (Link above.) Be prepared to provide medical information (medications, insurance information, etc) and note that your student must be with you to complete the Code of Conduct section.
Step 2: When you receive the confirmation email from Jotform, forward that email to your student's teacher so they will have a copy and will know that it is completed.
Step 3: Be sure to read the instructions for sending your student's medications to camp. All medications must be in the original package (daily sorters/pill keepers are not permitted.) Please only send enough medication for the week of camp.
Step 4: Talk to your student about the importance of following the camp policies. If they do not follow the camp policies the parent/guardian may be contacted to pick them up from camp.
