There will be a sea of blue jackets in downtown Indianapolis every fall for the foreseeable future.
The National FFA Organization inked a deal to keep their annual convention, which brings more than 70,000 visitors, in Indianapolis through at least 2040, FAA officials announced Oct. 28. Officials announced the extension at a kickoff event for the 98th National FAA Convention and Expo that begins Oct. 29 and runs through Nov. 1.
With the extension, the FFA becomes the group with the furthest commitment Visit Indy has booked into the future.
“This city has proven time and again to be an incredible partner, welcoming our members with open arms, providing world-class facilities, and helping us create life-changing experiences for students in agricultural education,” Cheryl Zimmerman, executive secretary at the National FFA Organization, said in a statement. “Extending our convention contract ensures we can keep building on that strong foundation and inspiring the next generation of agricultural leaders for years to come.”
Previously, the FFA had committed to staying in the Circle City through 2033. The new agreement extends their commitment an additional seven years.
FFA members have gathered each year at the Indiana Convention Center since 2006, with a brief break from 2013 to 2015 when the convention moved to Louisville and in 2020 when the gathering was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each year during the convention, thousands of students descend upon downtown Indianapolis, wearing their signature blue jackets with their home state emblazoned in yellow on the back.
The FFA originated in 1928 and will soon celebrate the organization’s 100th anniversary. FFA, which formerly stood for Future Farmers of America, changed its name in 1988 to reflect the growing diversity of its members and expand its agricultural focus. The FFA reported more than one million members nationwide across some 9,400 chapters in August.
Chris Gahl, Visit Indy executive vice president and chief marketing officer, said keeping the FFA’s annual business was a priority for the city’s tourism arm, the agency tasked with securing convention clients.
“We appreciate National FFA’s renewed commitment to Indy through 2040 and we stand ready to help grow their annual convention into our growing Indiana Convention Center,” Gahl said in a written statement.
Alysa Guffey writes business, health and development stories for IndyStar. Have a story tip? Contact her at amguffey@gannett.com or on X: @AlysaGuffeyNews.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indy’s FFA visitors are here to stay as group becomes furthest-out booked convention
Reporting by Alysa Guffey, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
