National FFA Convention to Move to Louisville in 1999
ALEXANDRIA, Va. The
National FFA Organization
announced that it will move its
national convention from Kansas
City, Mo., to Louisville, Ky.,
beginning with the 72nd National
FFA Convention in 1999.
Drawing nearly 40,000 guests
currently and expected to top
50,000 by the year 2000, the con
vention has an estimated econom
ic impact of $2O million annually.
FFA signed a seven-year con
tract with Louisville. The Novem
ber convention, which has been
held in Kansas City’s Municipal
Auditorium since FFA was found
ed in 1928, will be held in the
Kentucky Fair and Exposition
Center.
The announcement capped a
six-month search for the best site
to accommodate the convention’s
growth and enable FFA to expand
the premier educational experi
ence to more of its 450,000 mem
bers. Louisville, Indianapolis, and
In A Perfect World, Tires Never Go Down
In The Field, Prices Always Go Up At Harvest,
And You Always Plant The Highest Yielding Seed.
Until Then, We Have Options For The Real World.
Kansas City were finalists in the
search, conducted by FFA with
assistance from Smith Bucklin &
Associates. Criteria included an
arena that would seat at least
20,000, sufficient and affordable
hotel rooms close to the conven
tion site, and adequate facilities
for convention activities.
‘Taking all the criteria into con
sideration, Louisville provided the
best overall opportunities for the
national FFA convention in the
future,” said Larry D. Case,
national FFA adviser and chair
man of the National FFA board of
directors. “Kansas City has been a
warm, generous host, and we
thank its citizens and businesses
for 68 years of support. However,
the convention has outgrown its
current facilities, and attendance
keeps rising. Looking to the
future, we needed a new facility
that could better accommodate our
current and growing audience. We
look forward to forming the same
DK546 104-day RM
• Fast emergence
• Excellent stalk strength
• Very good test weight
• Excellent yield across all soil types
•4^jP
DK642 114-day RM
• High yield potential
• Very good emergence in no-till
• Girth flex ears
• Good resistance to Gray Leaf Spot
DK66B 116-day RM
• Consistent performance over wide conditions
• Excellent drought tolerance
• Very good seeding growth for no-till«
• Strong stalks for delayed harvest
See Your Local DEKALB Dealer or Call
DEKALB'S Regional Office @717-741 -5590
relationships in Louisville as we
have had in Kansas City.”
The convention will be Louis
ville’s largest. “We are very proud
to host this premier youth event,”
said Ronald L. Scott, president
and CEO of the Louisville and Jef
ferson County Convention & Visi
tors Bureau. “It is impossible to
overestimate the importance of
this convention coming to our
community. Considering today’s
hotel rates, the annual spending
would total $lOO million over the
five-year period. With even a
modest increase in hotel rates, the
convention will have a larger local
economic impact than any other
single convention booked to date.
The bid’s success is the result of
an aggressive and creative team
effort led by the State Fair Board
and the bureau, state, county and
city governments, and the general
and agribusiness communities.”
The national convention, the
culmination of a year’s activities
for FFA members, is an opportun
ity for recognition, business, elec
tions and celebration. Delegates
from each state discuss topics
affecting the national organization
and elect a new team of national
officers. Exceptional members
and supporters receive awards for
their achievement and commit
ment to the FFA. Students com
pete in finals rounds of several
events, including speaking and
parliamentary procedure competi
tions. Educational and motivation
al speakers provide opportunities
for personal growth and leader
ship development. Hundreds of
exhibitors provide information
about education and career possi
bilities at the concurrent FFA
National Agricultural Career
Show.
The national FFA officers, a
team of six students who lead and
represent their fellow members,
help plan and implement the con-
vention and other activities. This
year’s team played an even greater
role in the convention by voting
with the National FFA Board of
Directors on the new location.
“It is an honor to be a national
officer during a year with such
impact,” said Seth Demer, nation
al FFA president. “We considered
this decision very carefully as we
visited the proposed cities, talked
to members and imagined a con
vention in each different location.
My first national FFA convention
had a tremendous impact on my
decision to continue in FFA. I
want more members to have the
opportunity to meet FFA members
from all over the country, leant
more about themselves through
development workshops, discover
the opportunities in agriculture
and FFA, and see the scope of the
national FFA organization. It’s an
incredible experience.”
GOOD’S AG SERVICE
Liquid FWtlllMf ' f-'f*
100% Ortho )
Poly & Ortho
Uquw Fertlllwr
6-24-6
10-34-0
CFS Waxy Corn Seed
CFS Soybeans Seed
CFS Alfalfa Seed
Nutri-Cal Liquid Calcium
Liquid Calcium
30% Liquid Nitrogen
Ammonium Thiosulfate Liquid 12-0-0-26 s
Agri-SC Soil Conditioner,
Boron 10% Liquid
Bivert
Maxi-Crop Liquid
Compostore Pit Additive
Kelp Meal
Agrox Seed Box Treatment
Custom Corn Planting
Custom Liquid Fertilizing
Soil Sampling/Nutrient
Recommendations
For More Information Call
DALE GOOD 717-949-2371
Ask About EARLY DISCOUNTS
11-37-0
7-21-6