As the next National FFA Convention & Expo draws near, so does the excitement of tens of thousands of students and their advisors. While not every member will be able to make the trip to Indianapolis, those who do will carry on the spirit of the blue and gold corduroy from their hometown.
It is officially time to pull out your official dress items, pack your bags, and get ready to be in the sea of corduroy blue. You can visit our FFA page to stay up to date on features and news coming out of the National FFA Organization. Also, be sure to check out our guide to everything you’ll want to know about the convention and about what makes FFA so great!
Here are a few items you need to pack before heading to the National FFA Convention & Expo.
1. Comfortable shoes
This may seem like an obvious requirement, but this cannot be stressed enough! You will walk miles in the convention center and downtown Indianapolis. The last thing you want to add to your official dress is red blisters — they clash with the blue jacket, trust me! There is also nothing worse than having sore feet on the first day. If you are thinking about buying new shoes, do it now! Wear them whenever you can to break them in. This is also the time to see if you need to add support to your shoes to get you through the long days.
2. Pack your pockets!
Utilizing every space is of utmost importance. Those pockets will come in handy for the small necessities. For example, pack your pockets with lip balm, bobby pins, safety pins, and anything else that may come in handy throughout the day. However, new this year, is cashless venues. While having cash is still important for those late night Taco Bell runs, be sure to have either a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
3. Help a sister out
This one’s for the girls. Any female FFA members can tell you all the tips and tricks concerning pantyhose. Some tips to help during national convention, of course, include bringing an extra pack in case something tragic happens. But what happens when you get a rip and can’t change into a new pair? That is where the above step comes into handy — pack clear nail polish in your pocket. Whenever you see a run start, cover it with clear nail polish and that will stop the run in its tracks.
4. Money
If anything is guaranteed during the National FFA Convention & Expo, it is all the cool items you can find at the FFA Mall. Be prepared to find the most unique FFA memorabilia, belt buckles, hats, boots, books, decorations, and so much more! If you wish to bring a few items back with you, be sure to bring a few bucks. Pro tip: put a $20 bill in your pocket for emergencies in case you are caught without your purse or wallet. However, new this year, are cashless venues. While having cash is still important, be sure to have either a credit card, debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
5. Check the forecast
A few days before leaving for Indianapolis, be sure to check the weather. Is it going to be raining? Be sure to pack an umbrella or poncho. Is it going to be abnormally cold? Better pack a warm jacket. Rather be safe than cold and sorry.
6. Portable charger
If there is anything that is going to run out of juice during a full day at the National FFA Convention & Expo, it is your cell phone. The amount of texts saying, “Where are you,” is sure to drain your battery throughout the day. You don’t want to be THAT person constantly searching for an outlet. Portable chargers are very handy and could be a great way to meet new people.
7. Positive attitude
You definitely don’t want to forget to bring a positive attitude to national convention. The excitement throughout the entire convention is infectious. It is almost impossible to not have a good time during the National FFA Convention. However, an open mind and positive attitude is necessary to enjoy the trip.
8. Your FFA jacket, duh!
This may seem obvious, but sometimes we forget the most important items when packing.
With these items on your list, you will be ready to travel to Indianapolis for the 92nd National FFA Convention & Expo. The memories to be made are still unknown, but at least your packing list is finished! We can’t wait to see everyone later this month!
