Ten students from the Polk County High School FFA Chapter traveled to Louisville, Ky. for the 86th National FFA Convention and Expo, which was held from Oct. 29-Nov. 2.

The Polk FFA took a charter bus with seven other high schools to the convention; Chase, Owen, Brevard, North Buncombe, East Rutherford, Enka and Rosman.

While at the convention, students visited the Kentucky Derby and Churchill Downs Museum, as well as a local grass-fed beef cattle farm.

The students attended general FFA sessions where they listened to national FFA officers and speakers like Rick Pitino, the Louisville Cardinals basketball coach, attended the World’s Toughest Rodeo and enjoyed a concert performed by country stars Dierks Bentley and Jana Kramer.

More than 450 industry-leading exhibitors were in attendance as part of the National FFA Expo providing students with the chance to discover new agricultural careers, as well as explore educational opportunities.

More than 120 agricultural colleges and universities represented the Collegiate Connection section of the expo, providing high school students a chance to network with college students and professors.

– article submitted by Ashley Gilbert