National FFA has developed Next Gen Conferences to give students the opportunity to explore a variety of career paths before they graduate high school. From June 27-July 1 in Raleigh, N. C., The Next Gen Conference: Power, Structural, and Technical Pathway will engage high school students from across the country in hands-on sessions, panels, and tours to explore emerging technologies, trends, regulatory issues, and products in careers related to fabrication.
During the week, students will develop a Future Ready Plan that will serve as a blueprint to guide them in taking their next steps after high school graduation.
“The Next Gen Conferences were developed to give our members an opportunity to explore careers in agriculture and future careers,” said Ashli Weinrich, program specialist on the advocacy, literacy and ag based experiences team. “This summer conference will help us cultivate future leaders in the power, structure and technical pathway through a week of experiential learning, relevant education and networking.”
Selected participants include:
Dillion Huffman of Alaska; Azalia Harvey of Arizona; Zayd Bazor, Renny Boehm, Jackson Edson, Case Porter, Jacob Vargas, and Sawyer Tankersley of California; Ursula Porteus of Connecticut; Ryder Skinner of Delaware; Caleb Foster of Florida; Gabe Sartore, Carlton Redman, Cade Pierce and Hannah Carr of Indiana; Hayden Heyer of Iowa; Andrew Garman of Kansas; Jameson Pena Santos, Cash Lee, Thomas Epps, Brody Higgs and Mollie Goode of Kentucky; Jacob June of Michigan; Hayden Samuelson, Ryan Elstran, Kaden Kroll, Ben Leidenfrost, Caleb Diers and Klein Lachermeier of Minnesota; Russ Wagner of Mississippi; Aaron Carter, Clayton Jennings, Jaylynn Zerr and Taylor Myers of Missouri; Audrey Shutts, Landon Webb, Levi Webb and Riley Lavene of Nebraska; Andrew Curtis Szalach and Jack Beyer of New York; Russel Mclean of North Dakota; Jace Melugin, Kane McCullah and Adelyn McWhirt of Oklahoma; Noah Lee, Drew Rutledge and Carter Kennedy of Pennsylvania; Lyle Fulmer and Allie Taylor of South Carolina; Summer Bowman of Texas; Kara Wood of Virginia; Rem McBride and Kenny Gable of Washington; William Estep, Gavin Jennings and Cordell Bolyard of West Virginia; Brad Granahan, Sonya Merritt, Kole Peterson and Carter Vandervort of Wisconsin.
Learn more about Next Gen Conferences at https://www.ffa.org/participate/next-generation-conference/.
Examples of Student Stories:
- Andrew Garman of Kansas has always been interested in welding and fabrication – and has worked at a local welding and fabrication shop for his FFA supervised agricultural experience (SAE).
- Rem McBride of Washington has worked on demolition derby cars, welding and fabricating roll cages and bumpers as part of his SAE.
- Audrey Shutts of Nebraska has worked on small props and equipment for the local theater and other woodworking projects.
The National FFA Organization is a school-based national youth leadership development organization of more than 850,000 student members as part of 8,995 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
