(10-29-26) Last week, the Parkway FFA Chapter traveled to the 99th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana with the Crestview and Lincolnview FFA Chapters.
They started the trip with industry tours in St. Louis, Missouri, where students were able to tour an ADM barge-loading facility. This tour was set up and guided by Parkway graduate Kayla (Walls) Goddard, who works in the safety division for ADM.
The group toured the Anheuser-Busch Brewery to learn about its history and significance to American agriculture.
The St. Louis portion of the trip concluded with a visit to Gateway Arch National Park. Members learned about the arch’s history and its significance as a symbol of westward expansion.
The final industry tour took place at Toyota Indiana in Princeton, Indiana, where students learned about the company’s history and advanced manufacturing techniques.
At the National FFA Convention and Expo, students watched members from across the country earn awards, listened to keynote speakers Scott McKain and Reagan Pugh, and experienced the retiring addresses given by National Officers. They also explored the career show, featuring representatives from agricultural businesses and universities nationwide.
The trip concluded with six Parkway FFA members receiving their American FFA Degree, the highest degree in the FFA. This year’s recipients were Amanda Barrett, Gaven Garwood, Douglas Hughes, Kaitlyn Rager, Alayna Reigle, and Briann Scudder.
Members had a great time meeting peers from across the nation, exploring career and educational opportunities, engaging in unique dining experiences, and sharing their passion with over 70,000 attendees at the 99th National FFA Convention.
The Parkway FFA Chapter would like to thank Advanced Insurance Group for donating our convention apparel and the Rockford Eagles Aerie 1292 for sponsoring the trip.
