By Savannah Edgar and Haley Mitchell Godwin

Four  members of the Crenshaw County Future Farmers of America (FFA) chapter attended the National FFA Organization Next-Gen Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah Sept.10 – 14. The Next Gen Conferences, held three times a year, help prepare high school sophomores, juniors and seniors to fill the talent pipeline for the more than 350 careers in agriculture. 

The students explored career pathways in environmental service and natural resources, participated in industry roundtables and toured leading employers in those fields.

Crenshaw County Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) Ashley Catrett, accompanied Highland Home seniors Anna Kate Foster and Sandra Hall, and juniors Olidia Arriaga and Paige Daniel, to the conference where they gained hands-on experience for their upcoming National FFA competition in October. 

According to Catrett, the experience was an exclusive opportunity with only 75 students across 28 states selected to attend through a competitive application process.

Olidia Arriaga reflected on the valuable experiences gained from attending the conference.

“I feel very confident in myself because it taught me what my strengths and weaknesses are,” Arriaga said. “It also gave me the help I needed to figure out my plan for myself in the future. I was also able to meet like-minded people and make connections I normally would not have.” 

The students toured the Rio Tinto Mine and Antelope Island where they learned more about environmental science and current environmental issues. 

Paige Daniel shared her thoughts on the impact of the tours and attending the FFA Next-Gen Conference, emphasizing how it has shaped her perspective on both her future career and her personal growth.

“I would recommend the FFA Next-Gen Conference because it not only opened my eyes to careers in the environmental field, but helped me discover myself,” Daniel said “I’ve found an interest in wanting to help and educate people about our environment and the issues we as people cause. As the next generation, I want to make a difference and preserve nature as it is for as long as I can.”

According to Ashli Weinrich, Program, Advocacy, Literacy and Ag-Based Experiences Specialist with the national organization, FFA is a nationally-recognized school-based student leadership development organization, that prides itself on providing year-round educational opportunities like the Next Gen Conferences, in order to prepare the next generation of leaders through educational opportunities that highlight different career pathways.

“It’s exciting to know that the Next Gen Conference took place in a state that has grown so much in membership this past year,” said Weinrich. “With the conference topic being ‘environmental service and natural resources,’ it was great to see the students learn about and gain awareness around careers that affect our air, soil and water.”

Up next for Crenshaw County FFA members is a busy season of competitions, preparations and key events that celebrate the agricultural community while providing valuable hands-on experiences for members.