Coming Home to Convention
By Teresa Milner, Wyoming FFA Media Relations
The last time I attended the National FFA Convention & Expo was 2008. Over the years, I’ve experienced convention from just about every angle — as a chapter member, a Wyoming FFA state officer, part of the National FFA staff, and now as Wyoming FFA state staff. I’ve been to enough conventions that the memories blur together, but stepping back into Indianapolis this fall reminded me exactly why this event remains such a cornerstone of agricultural education.
Convention feels even bigger now than it did back then. The energy, the people, the sense of purpose—it’s a breathtaking reminder of how much the FFA experience continues to grow and evolve.
What’s Changed
Downtown Indianapolis has expanded, and so has the convention itself. What amazed me most wasn’t just the physical space, but the number of Wyoming teams, advisors, and parents traveling now. There’s a whole ecosystem behind our members — a web of support that didn’t exist in the same way back then.
We’ve come a long way in how we connect and communicate as a state: the Remind group buzzing with updates, social media posts cheering each other on, chapters coordinating schedules so we can show up to events and be that familiar Wyoming face in the crowd. It’s community in action — digital and real-world both.
How kids connect with one another has also changed. Seventeen years ago, there was no social media. You met people, you interacted with them for a moment, then they were gone. Now, kids exchange Snaps, follow each other on Instagram, or make TikTok reels to share about their experiences. It expands the shared experience in ways I still can’t fathom.
And then there’s the modern miracle of navigation. Let’s just say that driving a van full of kids through a strange city used to involve an atlas wedged between the seats, skethcy directions scribbled on a napkin by a hotel concierge and lots of yelling. Google Maps has saved a few gray hairs.
I also noticed more adults than before — chaperones, parents, alumni, and volunteers. The scale of people it takes to pull this event off is mind-boggling. From the courtesy corps restocking shelves in the FFA mall to parents helping at the service project booths, judges in the contests, and drivers running buses between venues, every piece runs independently yet somehow fits together perfectly. It’s impressive, and it’s humbling.
What Hasn’t Changed
Despite the growth, the heart of convention is exactly the same — fun, friendship, and excitement. You can feel it everywhere.
People still talk in elevators, smile at strangers, and strike up conversations in restaurants. It’s this beautiful pocket of humanity — a place where people are genuinely kind and engaged. In a world that often feels too loud, too opinionated, and too divided, the National FFA Convention is a powerful reminder of what’s right with our youth.
I even saw a young man drop $40 and a girl sprint down the hall to return it to him. That’s the kind of integrity and decency that defines this organization.
Proud Wyoming Moments
Watching Wyoming’s own Hayden Hubbard, Regan Allen and Brody Medina win National Agriscience Fair Championship was incredible. Seeing heads bob and smiles light up the faces of adults and members when LLMN (also known lovingly as the Ten Sleep Band) hit the first few notes of Seven Nation Army on the talent stage was priceless. I loved hearing pockets of raucous cheers anytime Wyoming was mentioned on the big stage.
But what I loved most was just seeing the genuine interest our students showed in their peers – connecting with members from other states, asking questions, and sharing openly and honestly about why they love their home chapter and state.
Wyoming brought home two national championships and several top-ten finishes in agriscience, CDEs, and LDES this year — no small feat for a smaller state. But what makes me proudest is how we showed up for each other. State officers, staff, and supporters were spread across sessions and contests, balancing cheering sections with volunteer shifts. We might be small, but we’re mighty — and we always find ways to lift one another up.
Choosing Presence Over Pictures
I didn’t even take my big camera out once during the entire week. That surprised me at first — I’m a photographer by habit and by heart — but something about this trip felt too important to view through a lens.
There’s a kind of magic at convention that you have to feel, not frame. Every time I thought about taking pictures, I realized I’d rather just stand there, watch it unfold, and take mental snapshots instead. Sometimes, the best way to capture a moment is to be completely present for it.
Why It Still Matters
For anyone who’s never been to a National FFA Convention, it’s hard to describe the scale. Picture thousands of blue jackets filling an arena, the sound of applause that echoes in your chest, and the feeling of belonging to something so much bigger than yourself.
And yet, being there also reminded me how grateful I am for the closeness of Wyoming FFA — where everyone knows everyone, and the connections run deep. We might be one small cog in a very big wheel, but we turn together like a family.
A Personal Note
Coming back after 17 years made me realize how much I love my role in this organization — and how much joy I find in working with young people. It made me feel young and impossibly old all at once, but mostly just proud. Proud of who we are, proud of where we’re going, and proud that the blue corduroy still stands for something real.
Keep the Momentum Going
If you’ve got a favorite National FFA Convention memory—old or new—share it with us! Post it on social media and tag @WyomingFFA, or email your story to wyomingffa@gmail.com.
To every member who competed, every teacher who drove a van, and every parent who cheered from the stands — thank you for making Wyoming proud. Let’s carry that same energy home and keep telling our story, one chapter, one classroom, one conversation at a time.
Teresa Milner
Wyoming FFA Media Relations