A select group of 50 FFA alumni from across the country will convene in Des Moines, Iowa, July 21-25 to discuss future issues and opportunities in the field of production agriculture. The annual New Century Farmer Conference convenes FFA alumni ages 18-24 who have demonstrated leadership in their studies and work experience, earning them a sought-after spot at the conference.
Since FFA programming is reserved primarily for middle and high school students, the New Century Farmer Conference offers former FFA members who have chosen to pursue careers in agriculture a look inside the business operations of farming. Attendees are interested in careers in agribusiness, agricultural education, animal systems, communications, food products and processing, natural resources, plant systems, and more. The students’ current farming and work experience ranges from managing 650 heads of cattle, 4,800 pigs, or 5,500 hogs to raising a small brood of hens to sell organic eggs to family and friends on the livestock side, and managing anywhere from 0 to more than 4,000 acres of crops on the plant side.
“The New Century Farmer Conference provides a pathway for FFA alumni to advance their leadership, personal and career skills,” said Allie Ellis, Associate Director of the National FFA Alumni & Supporters. “The conference is a dedicated time for attendees to explore diverse farm operations with industry experts and peers, and learn what it takes to launch and maintain a successful career in agriculture.”
Those attending the conference this year include:
Arizona
- Reilly Rich
Arkansas
- Austin Guyot
Colorado
- Kole Hawkins
Connecticut
- Malakai Adams
- Claire Zess
Florida
- Emily Acevedo
Georgia
- Haigen Walker
- Austin McMahan
Illinois
- Benjamin Bremmer
- Halie Kohl
Indiana
- Jadin Seiler
Iowa
- Beth Lamp
- Zachary Chambers
Kansas
- Aimee Kalb
Kentucky
- Macey Thompson
- Leslie Monhollen
- Jenna Thompson
- Luke Mullins
Louisiana
- Abbygail Davis
Michigan
- Ryleigh Jordan
Missouri
- Bethany Foltz
- Isabella Foltz
- Emma Steele
- Sophia Short
- Jacob Heitman
Montana
- Mackenzie Serrano
- Sheridan Johnson
New Jersey
- Timothy Bilyk
New York
- Holly Niefergold
North Carolina
- Sarah Holloman
- Mylee Davis
- Hanna Ball
- Alleigh Johnson
Oklahoma
- Ethan Stone
Oregon
- Tayleur Baker
South Dakota
- Dakota Jensen
Tennessee
- Shelby Flynn
- Charlie Majors
Texas
- Taylor Hood
- Casey Boersma
- Aliyah Russell
Utah
- Morgan Wilde
Virginia
- Samuel Leach
Washington
- Andrew Miles
Wisconsin
- Mary Schrieber
- Devani Hinkelmann
- Henry Koerner
- Sara Snortheim
Corporate support for the conference comes from Bunge, Case IH, Corteva Agriscience, John Deere, Farm Credit and Firestone Ag.
You can learn more about the National FFA Organization at www.ffa.org, and the New Century Farmer program at www.ffa.org/participate/conference/new-century-farmer.
