A SPECIAL TOUR — FFA members at Edison High School traveled to Indianapolis on Oct. 28-31 to take part in the 98th-annual National FFA Convention and Expo. Students attended workshop sessions and heard from keynote speakers. Attendees viewed the expo’s hundreds of exhibits and toured local sites. FFA members taking part included, from left, front, Adrienne Granatir, Bella Evans and Chloe Cornish; and back, Lena Wagner, Sydney Newburn, Maddie Granatir, Jon Whitlatch, Noah Lucas and Kloe Riley. -- Contributed

RICHMOND — Members of Edison High School’s FFA traveled to Indianapolis on Oct. 28-31 to take part in the 98th-annual National FFA Convention and Expo.

Nine students attended the event along with their advisers, Kelli Pridemore and Cori Griffith. Students included Adrienne Granatir, Bella Evans and Chloe Cornish; and back, Lena Wagner, Sydney Newburn, Maddie Granatir, Jon Whitlatch, Noah Lucas and Kloe Riley.

The group arrived at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium to join 73,000 other FFA participants from across the nation.

The event is one of the largest student conventions in the world. Its mission is to develop, educate and inspire students, offering workshops which help to develop leadership, personal growth and career success.

Teacher workshops provided educators with new ideas and activities which they can integrate into their classrooms.

The convention included educational tours, such as agri-business systems, animal systems, biotechnology systems, natural resources systems and power, structural and technical systems.

Members, teams and chapters were recognized for their accomplishments. More than 300 exhibitors were on hand representing agriculture, colleges, fundraising, the armed services and auto and truck manufacturers.

Pridemore said the event is intended to broaden the young members’ understanding of leadership and service.

“The National FFA Convention exposes students to FFA on a national level,” Pridemore explained. “They were able to meet people from all over the country. The students enriched their leadership skills and bonded through the week of travel.”

During the event, FFA members attended a career fair and convention sessions, according to Pridemore, who said, “We attended convention sessions where we heard from keynote speakers, national FFA officers and saw national FFA talent.”

While there, the group toured local fish farm Ozark Fisheries, took a behind-the-scenes tour of the ocean section at the Indianapolis Zoo; attended a rodeo, toured the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and “kissed the bricks” at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.