America ’s Largest Youth Convention
NATIONAL FFA CONVENTION TO BE TELEVISED LIVE
COLUMBIA, SC…..The 79 th National FFA Convention to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana, will be televised live on the RFD-TV Satellite Network beginning Wednesday, October 25, at 6:30 PM (EST) and continuing through the closing session on Saturday, October 28. The program will be hosted by internationally known farm broadcasters Orion Samuelson and Max Armstrong.
RFD-TV will be there to capture all the action as more than 55,000 FFA members, advisors and guests pack Conseco Fieldhouse, the Indiana Convention Center, Indiana State Fairgrounds and other sites in downtown Indianapolis. This is the first year the national FFA convention is being held in Indianapolis. The theme of the convention is “Blue Jackets, Gold Standards,” giving visual imagery to the ideals of the organization as well as the sea of blue jackets that will adorn the Circle City.
“South Carolinians are encouraged to experience the energy and excitement of America’s largest youth convention by watching the RFD-TV coverage,” said John W. Parris, spokesman for the SC FFA Association. “FFA members, advisors and guests representing every state, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, will gather for inspiring general sessions, national finals in more than 40 career development events, agricultural education leadership seminars and to visit the 1300-exhibit Agricultural Career Show,” he added.
RFD-TV is the first 24-hour television network dedicated to serving the needs and interests of American agriculturalists. Currently, the RFD-TV Network is available to more than 30 million homes as a basic channel on DISH Network (9409), DIRECTV (379) and Mediacom, NCTC and other cable systems.
The schedule for TV coverage of the national convention is: Wednesday, October 25, 6:30 PM-9:00 PM; Thursday, October 26, 1:30 PM-4:30 PM; 7:00 PM-10:00 PM; Friday, October 27, 7:30 AM-10:30 AM; 11:30 AM-1:30 PM; 2:30 PM-4:30 PM and 6:30 PM-9:00 PM; and Saturday, October 28, 7:30 AM-11:30 AM and 1:00PM-5:00 PM.
William E. Keels, State Director of Agricultural Education; H. Keith Cox, Steve Sanderson, and Chris Corzine, Associate State Directors of Agricultural Education with Clemson University; John W. Parris, State Director of Public Affairs with the SC FFA Association; Dr. Tom Dobbins, Agricultural Education Program Coordinator, and other faculty from Clemson University, will accompany more than 600 FFA members, advisors, parents, school administrators and sponsors from South Carolina to the national convention.
South Carolina’s State FFA Officer Team Amanda Hiott, president, Williston; Ashton Berry, secretary, Saluda; Katie McCannon, vice president, Pendleton; Allen Wright, vice president, McBee; Tyler Brown, vice president, Abbeville; and Lara Boyd, vice president, Aiken, will serve as official voting delegates at the national convention. Aiken FFA member and Clemson University junior Josh O’Rear is a national officer candidate.
The mission of the FFA is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.