NEWS

FFA convenes in Louisville one last time

Sheldon S. Shafer
Louisville Courier Journal
The FFA convention draws huge crowds of students and pumps millions of dollars into the Louisville economy.

Louisville will roll out the red carpet one last time in late October for the 2015 National FFA Convention & Expo, a four-day event expected to draw 60,000 mostly career-minded youth and to have a $40 million positive local economic impact.

But the organization of primarily high school students pursuing agribusiness careers recently spurned returning to Louisville in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and instead it is now committed to having the extremely lucrative piece of tourism business in Indianapolis from 2016-2024.

It moved its national headquarters to the Hoosier capital several years ago.

Nonetheless, local officials appear to be holding out hope of the FFA's return at some point.

"We hope you will be back in the future," Karen Williams, president and CEO of the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau, said at a Wednesday morning news conference.

City officials bemoan loss of huge FFA event

Nearly 100 Louisville-area FFA members, decked out in yellow and blue T-shirts bearing the slogan of the 2015 event, "Amplify," attended the news conference at the Kentucky International Convention Center to promote the organization's Oct. 28-31 meeting in Louisville.

The city "loves the energy you bring, which is unmatched.  You have a tremendous impact on our city, its hotels, restaurants and citizens," Mayor Greg Fischer said.

Josh Bledsoe, the FFA's chief operating officer, told reporters that the FFA will welcome bids from Louisville, or any other city, as the convention site — if and when the Indianapolis obligation ends. He affirmed the FFA leadership's decision earlier this year that Louisville simply does not have enough hotel rooms within 40 miles that offer affordable rates for two occupants — the quarters the young FFA membership seems to prefer.

Bledsoe praised Louisville's hospitality and the tremendous experience the membership had in attending the convention the last two years in Louisville.

Louisville tourism officials had long expected to continue the arrangement of alternating the convention between Louisville and Indianapolis for three-year cycles under a deal first struck in 2010. The FFA convened in Louisville from 1999 to 2005.

The 60,000-plus convention attendees will stay at around 135 hotels within 60 miles of Louisville.

"With the opportunities we are given in our lives, we must take action and share the message of agriculture with others," said 2015-16 National FFA President Andy Paul, a student at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Georgia. “It's time we all amplify our voice, when it comes to the message of agriculture, and boost our impact.”

Nine general sessions will draw FFA members together at the Kentucky Exposition Center, while other activities will be at downtown facilities, including the KFC Yum! Center.

Volunteers sought to aid huge FFA event

Students will be able to browse exhibits from more than 450 corporations, organizations and colleges at a convention trade show. And they will have a chance to see Louisville's museums and other attractions, as well as tour numerous local companies and plants, many of the agriculture-related.

While here, the members are expected to perform 16,000 hours of public service, aiding many local nonprofits. Their volunteer work will start Oct. 29 as part of the National Days of Service.

FFA members will help such groups as YouthBuild Louisville, where young adults realize their potential through the development of life and job skills, and Louisville Grows, an organization promoting urban agriculture and forestry.

On Wednesday, as a prelude, the members planted thousands of mums in downtown planters.

Michael Kotarski, a senior at John Hardin High School in Hardin County, will be attending his fourth convention.

"I like the convention atmosphere," he said in an interview. "You get to meet members from all over the country. You can get a true sense of what FFA is all about."

Throughout the four days, the student-delegates will have a chance to attend more than 70 leadership and personal growth workshops.

The National FFA Organization, formerly the Future Farmers of America, provides leadership, personal growth and career training through agricultural education to nearly 630,000 student members who belong to one of 7,757 local FFA chapters.

Reach Reporter Sheldon S. Shafer at (502) 582-7089, or via email at sshafer@courier-journal.com.

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