Selling fruit can earn you a chance to go to a Toby Kieth concert and some other fun stuff, if you're a CHS FFA student! Ag students needed to sell $1,000 worth of fruit in order to be able to go to the National FFA Convention, held on October 21-24 in Indianapolis, Indiana. It has been held there for the past five years. This year was the 82nd convention in its history. There are 40-50 thousand FFA students from all around who go to the convention.

"I like the fact that they get to go because it is a great honor and it gives them exposure to a national event," said Ag Teacher Ronald Alden.

At the convention, students were able to attend leadership workshops, a career show, and were also able to go to a Toby Keith concert. The state level Agriculture competitions are also held there. This year the only teacher to accompany the students to the convention was Ag teacher Carmen Buller. Kim Schlorff also went with them to the convention as and adult chaperon. 

"It is the largest youth convention in the world," stated Mrs.Buller, "I have been going to it since I was in 8th grade(17 years) and I enjoy it very much."

This year, only 10 students were allowed to go. Among these students were Azalee Morgan, RayAnn Armstrong, Garrett Uthe, and Jerad Schlorff. Tyler Tvrdy was also able to go because he qualified through making it into FFA choir. Other ways that students can earn a chance to go is to qualify through receiving awards or degrees and also through FFA band.

"It is a good chance to meet new people and gain experience through learning different types of careers that are available in the field of agriculture." said FFA student RayAnn Armstrong.

The FFA national convention allows students a chance to experience state level Ag projects and learn from the best. It also gives them a chance to see how hard work pays off because of the amount of fruit that they have to sell and all the the fun they get to have at the convention. The convention lets the students experience and learn new things related to Agriculture.