by Matthew Winterholler, Wyoming FFA media relations team
CHEYENNE—Cheyenne, Wyoming, will host the 91st Wyoming FFA Convention April 18-21, making it the 20th year that Cheyenne has hosted the convention.
“This year, Wyoming FFA will be hosting Cheyenne Mayor Marian Orr to kick off the 20th year of convention in Cheyenne,” said Trey Campbell, Wyoming FFA state president.
Wyoming FFA Convention includes leadership workshops, sessions that include addresses from the association’s state officers and contests in a variety of areas relating to agricultural careers and leadership development.
“The Wyoming FFA Convention is the culmination of a year of hard work for FFA members,” Campbell said. “We will be competing and crowning CDE ([Career Development Event) champions, awarding students for their hard work in their projects outside of school and, as always, continuing to develop premier leaders through workshops, speakers and the election of a new state officer team.”
The convention’s contests and sessions require a large amount of volunteerism and space to make the experience seamless for the members that attend the convention every year. Cheyenne has proven to be a city that is reliable in these facets.
Wyoming FFA Convention was originally moved to Cheyenne after the state association combined the state judging contest and the convention.
“After we did a search, the only place that could host the contests of state judging and have enough seating for the convention to grow was Cheyenne,” said Teresa Milner, Wyoming FFA Convention manager.
Since the move, the City of Cheyenne and Laramie County Community College have demonstrated a welcoming and ambitious attitude for Wyoming FFA and its members. The help and volunteerism from both of these entities have made it possible to host many of the events in an efficient, affordable manner.
“We anticipate keeping convention in Cheyenne for the foreseeable future because the city has all of the resources we need,” Milner said. “The city is growing, and we’re confident it will keep up with the demand of convention.”
The convention brings in around 1,400 students, volunteers and supporters into Cheyenne each year, resulting in $1.346 million of economic impact on the city, according to the Cheyenne Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
Wyoming FFA thanks the city of Cheyenne, Laramie County Community College Agricultural Department and the Cheyenne Civic Center staff for their help in making the experience of Wyoming FFA Convention possible for members across the state.
The Wyoming FFA Association is part of the National FFA Organization, formerly known as Future Farmers of America. This youth organization has more than half a million student members nationwide and more than 2,900 in 54 chapters in Wyoming. The FFA mission 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.
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