INDIANAPOLIS — If you spent any time downtown this week, you probably saw distinctive blue jackets. The FFA is holding its 96th annual national convention in Indianapolis.
The jackets tell you where these students have come from, with the students' home state emblazoned on the back.
"FFA really does bring out the same thing in people in a good way, like everyone, because we're open to new things and we all become sort of like a community and friends in a way, and we're all like one at the same time, so it's a lot of unity in a way," said Ally Curiel, from California.
There are some 70,000 of these students with here in Indianapolis this week from all over the country. Many of them come from farming families. All of them have an interest in agricultural careers and issues.
"Even if you don't come from a farm or anything, agriculture and the stuff that it produces still affects you in some sort of way, even if you don't think so. So it's a great to have that knowledge," Connersville's Cora Nobbe said.
Nobbe, an eighth-grader, placed eighth nationally with her agriscience project on apple dehydration techniques.
Earlier this week, we met an FFA group from Missouri, who said they were enjoying their Indiana visit.
"Oh, it's a lot of fun," one member said. "It's a lot different, something we've never got to experience. Big city. We've got 14 in our class."
The convention is being held at Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center. The organization's goal is to grow the next generation of leaders and to encourage more diverse students to go into agriculture.