National FFA Convention Prep: Why Starting Sooner is Better!

Have you ever looked at some of the social media posts from National Convention and think, “Wow, they totally have their lives together!” Some chapters might have all their chicks in a row (haha or even their FFA members in lines) but don’t think that they didn’t prepare for the unexpected!

Planning National Convention is about thinking outside the box to…

1. Save you money AND

2. Prepare you for the unexpected!

By thinking outside the box you have the ability to make the trip seem smooth and seamless for someone looking in. I have all kinds of good and not-so-good stories that I could share about National Convention.

• I have taken 40 kids several years with one other teacher and two school chaperones.
• We have been across four state lines in one week.
• I have made the choice to move hotels in the middle of the stay due to circumstances beyond our control.
• Kids have been taken to the ER for weird allergic reactions, and we have handled road closures, traffic delays, and too tight parking spots for our charter bus.

BUT it was the moments of bringing my students into their first sessions that really fueled my passion. Sharing with them the moments of their first trip away from home and reminding them they still needed money for food for the rest of their trip!

As an Ag Teacher, I have taught kids how to use credit cards on this trip, leave a tip, and remind them not to talk to strangers.

So how do you prepare the worst and have the best time? START EARLY! 

If you want more detailed information on how I plan my trip step by step check out my training I provide on my website! Below are a few tips and tricks to get you started!

1. Figure out who you will be traveling with. Are you going with just your chapter or will you be splitting travel costs with another chapter? There are pros and cons to both situations and you need to figure out which one works best for your group.

2. Plan your hotel and bus. We started planning for our hotel and reserve our charter bus during the SPRING! Typically, we are already planning for convention before FFA week. Just a few phone calls during your back to school meeting in January after Christmas break make all the difference! Your summer self will thank you later. 

3. Hope and pray for the best and prepare for the worst. Keep in mind that things happen. You are traveling to a National Event with a LOT of teenagers and traffic and just a lot of stuff to coordinate. Leave room in your schedule for some flexibility and make sure you bring the school credit card!

Your trip will be as amazing as you make it. A positive attitude goes a LONG way and remember you have done great things and there is always something that could go better or you would like to change but you got this and you are keeping kids alive, healthy, happy, and making memories that will last a lifetime!