Badger FFA Chapter members attended the National FFA Organization’s 212º and 360º Conference at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin Nov. 15 and 16.
More than 1,000 FFA members and advisors from around the state of Wisconsin participated in this national personal development conference held bi-annually in Wisconsin.
Badger FFA members who attended the conference included Allison Oomens, Carter Volck, Austin Schoonover, Tristan Klabunde, Elijah Falbo and Brooke Brumm.
The 212º Conference is a two-day personal development seminar designed for high school freshman and sophomores involved in the FFA organization. 212° – the temperature at which water boils – will focus on taking students to the boiling point of leadership. At 211° water is extremely hot, but just one more degree gets us to the next level.
These conferences focus on student development. Students will be challenged to push the limits. Themes for this conference include: Virtues and Growth.
The 360º Conference is a two-day personal development seminar designed for high school juniors and seniors involved in the FFA organization and takes students full circle in terms of chapter leadership. The 360° Conference is focused on the importance of influence and how to become an influential leader.
Students spent their time in sessions understanding the importance of influence, conducting a chapter needs assessment, crafting an influence plan for their local FFA chapter and developing a strategy to make an influence.
“FFA’s personal development conferences are an exceptional opportunity for FFA members to participate in a national conference without leaving their home state,” State FFA Executive Director Cheryl Zimmerman said. “These conferences bring out the very best in students and advisors who participate. It really helps the students focus on who they are and what they can become as well as meet FFA members from all across the state of Wisconsin.”
Leadership development is a key focus in the National FFA Organization. Helping FFA members develop their leadership skills and focus on who they are and what they can become is key to the mission of the FFA Organization. Members start at the local chapter level in their home high schools and can become active at both the state and national levels.
Students in rural, suburban and urban schools all can benefit from the programs offered through agricultural education. The FFA is a key component of agricultural education and helps the students to develop leadership skills through hands-on and real-life experiences.
Conference staff members are college students who are former state or national FFA officers. Many staff members have also worked as counselors for the Washington Leadership Conference, FFA’s national leadership seminar held in Washington, D.C. each summer.
