-Submitted photo
Members of the Fort Dodge FFA chapter who attended the National FFA Convention and Expo were, from left, Kylee Thackery, Gabby Waldschmidt, Grace Winkel, Emma Lloyd, chapter adviser Ben Hennessy, Mason Eastwood and Nat Christensen.

The Fort Dodge FFA chapter recently traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, to attend the 97th annual National FFA Convention and Expo Oct. 22-25.

Six FFA members, including Nat Christensen, Mason Eastwood, Emma Lloyd, Kylee Thackery, Grace Winkel and Gabby Waldschmidt were accompanied by their adviser, Ben Hennessy, to engage in a variety of activities aimed at expanding their agricultural knowledge and leadership skills.

The group kicked off their experience with a tour of Connor Prairie, a historic farm and museum that re-creates 19th century life along the White River. A memorable part of this visit was the opportunity to ride in a hot air balloon. Later that day, the group explored the convention hall, familiarizing themselves with the venue.

On Oct. 24, the members attended the convention’s opening session at Lucas Oil Stadium, where they heard from keynote speakers, including Kanyon Huntington, a national officer from Iowa. Following the session, they spent the day exploring the Career Fair and Expo, participating in workshops, and networking with FFA members from across the country.

After a successful convention, the group members returned to Fort Dodge on Oct. 25, ready to apply what they learned.