Conferences

Nebraska FFA offers a variety of leadership workshops, training and experiences through state-wide leadership events. From classroom visits to training chapter officers, there are leadership opportunities available for all Nebraska FFA members.

Information For All Conferences

Supervision and Discipline Policy

All students must have an advisor/chaperone on-site during the conference. State FFA staff will not provide direct supervision of students. If there is a supervision or discipline incident, our staff will immediately refer it to the local FFA advisor for action.

All students must bring the Nebraska FFA medical release form/code of conduct form that the advisor or chaperone is responsible for keeping and referencing if needed.

Medical Release Form and Code of Conduct

Formulario de Autorización Médica (Español)

Refund and Payment Policy

Chapter or student cancellations made after the close of registration will not receive a refund. If the conference must be cancelled due to inclement weather, state staff will notify chapter advisors via school email.

Invoices will be emailed to teachers after registration closes. Make checks payable to: Nebraska FFA Association. Send check and printed invoice to:

Grafton & Associates
5935 South 56th Street, Suite A
Lincoln, NE 68516

Ignite Conference

  • The 2024 Ignite Conference will be held on September 24, 2024 in North Platte at the Sandhills Convention Center (Ramada Inn) and September 25, 2024 in Kearney at the Younes Conference Center North.

    Ignite Conference is a leadership conference for students in grades 7, 8, or 9. Students will learn about various opportunities in FFA and a variety of leadership topics. They will have an exciting opportunity to make new connections with others and experience interactive group activities. Students will leave the conference eager to be involved in the FFA organization!

  • Ignite Conference Registration opens August 26th at 12:00 PM CST and closes September 13th at 5:00 PM CST.
    Check back here for the link!
    Cost per student is $35.00 and includes conference materials and supplies and lunch.



  • Ignite Conference Schedule:
    Times listed are Central Time

    8:30 AM – Registration Starts
    9:00 AM – Student Leadership Sessions Start
    Noon — Lunch (included in conference registration)
    4:00 PM – Conference Concludes

  • Teachers/advisors will meet for updates and professional development.

  • Lodging Arrangements
    All lodging arrangements and payments must be made by each FFA chapter. Do not wait to make reservations.

    North Platte area hotel recommendations:
    Ramada Inn: Use this booking link to receive a special conference rate.

    Kearney area hotel recommendations:
    Fairfield Inn (308) 236-4200 and Comfort Inn (308) 251-2722

    • Students do not need official dress. Please have students wear school-appropriate clothing.

Pathways to Careers

  • Pathways to Careers (P2C) Conference is a leadership and career development conference. Students will learn about potential career opportunities by attending sessions led by industry representatives from all parts of agriculture.

    P2C is designed for students in grades 9-12. Attendees will be encouraged to seriously consider career path interests and choose sessions based on that. P2C is a great way to explore and develop your Supervised Agricultural Experience and see how that connects to real world career opportunities. Students will interact with industry professionals during sessions, learn some specific skills and information about chosen career pathways, gain industry knowledge, and have the chance to network with peers and leaders in agriculture. In addition, students will gain leadership experiences and listen to a dynamic keynote speaker.

  • Information TBA.

  • Pathways to Careers Conference will be held November 7-8, 2024 in Kearney at the Younes Conference Center North.

  • Information TBA.

  • Lodging and Rooms are to be arranged and paid for by the advisor/school. Area hotel recommendations: Comfort Inn (308-236-3400) and Fairfield Inn and Suites (308-236-4200).

  • Attire
    The dress code is school appropriate casual clothing. No official dress is needed.

    Other information
    -P2C is a leadership conference contextualize within the agriculture industry. Representatives from all sectors of agriculture will attend and students can select sessions based on interests.
    -Students will interact with business, industry and education representatives who are professionals in their area. They are key networking partners for students to begin learning about career fields.
    -P2C is a great way to explore and develop guided career experiences (SAEs).
    -Looking for a great speech or ag demo topic? Listen for current ag issues discussed by industry leaders.

Chapter Visit Program

  • The Chapter Visit Program (CVP) is a one-day visit from a Nebraska State FFA Officer to your school and classroom. State officers will facilitate workshops for agriculture classes, meet with the chapter officer team and learn about the local ag ed program and FFA chapter.

    A series of seven different workshops are offered so that a chapter may select topics that best meet the needs of students enrolled in your agricultural education courses.

    2024 Workshop Topics:

    • Time Management
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Personal Brand
    • Garbage In, Garbage Out (Habitude-Based)
    • Leadership Styles
    • FFA Opportunities
    • Ag Advocacy

  • The fee for a chapter visit is $75 which pays for transportation and workshop materials. Invoices will be emailed to you after the chapter visit. Please wait to pay until you’ve received your emailed invoice.

  •  

    • Visits within a week will be scheduled around one location “hub” (with some exceptions.) Each officer will visit one chapter per day but will return to the location “hub” in the evenings. This will allow officers to be housed as a group and will capitalize on their travel time across the state with a growing number of chapters and a shorter time period to complete visits this spring due to convention being a week earlier. 
    • Calendly links (the method to sign up for a visit date) will be open from Jan 10 – Jan 19th. That is the time frame in which chapters can select a date for a visit.

  • Check your email to find the specific Calendly link for your assigned week of visits. Search for “2024 FFA Chapter Visit Program Info” in the subject line. Email [email protected] or [email protected] with additional questions.

  • Advisors will NOT be responsible for lodging this year. State officers will stay in a central location “hub” and the state association will cover lodging.

  • Sign up for a visit via your chapter’s specific Calendly link (sent in a previous email.) Links will be open from Jan 10 — Jan 19th!

COLT Conference

  • Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conference serves three primary purposes: chapter planning, individual officer training, team development and engaging chapter members.

    The conference plays an important role in providing an opportunity for chapters to conduct vital planning for the coming year. Chapter officers are introduced to individual leadership growth experiences as well as learning how to serve as an effective team member.

    Chapter officers are charged with using what they learn to improve their local chapter – including how to get members involved as well as being prepared to lead their chapter throughout the year.

    Students will learn in officer groups (all the presidents together, all vice presidents together, etc.) and as a local chapter officer team.

    Chapter officers that are elected to serve for the 2024-25 year should attend the 2024 COLT Conference.

    Any chapter can attend any session of COLT that works in their schedule. Sessions will be limited to 250 students, so it will be important to register early (when registration opens!) if you have a specific session your chapter wants to attend.

  • Registration
    Registration opens on April 17 at noon CST. Registration closes on May 1 at 11:59 PM CST.

    Click here to Register

    You will need student names, t-shirt sizes and office held to register. You will also need advisor(s) name and t-shirt size.

    If you do not know specific students/offices when registration opens, you may enter names/offices to hold space and then you must make final updates by the time registration closes on May 1.

    Cost
    The cost will be $120 per student to attend. Here is the breakdown per person:
    4 meals and amenities at TLC: $82.77
    Facilities at TLC: $25
    T Shirt: $9
    Supplies: $5
    Total cost per person: ($121.77) = $120

    Note – The COLT session prices DO NOT include lodging. See specific information in lodging section.

  • COLT 2024 will offer four, 2-day sessions:

    • Session 1 May 17-18
    • Session 2 May 20-21
    • Session 3 May 22-23
    • Session 4 May 24-25

    Session Schedule
    Day One
    8:00 am – On-site Registration
    9:00 am – Conference Start
    11:45 pm – Day one concludes

    Day Two
    8:30 am – Flag Raising/Conference Start
    4:00 pm – Conference Concludes – Depart for Home

  • There will be teacher/advisor updates and in-service opportunities during each COLT session. Specific times will be added closer to the event.

    The general schedule for the conference is:

    Day One
    8:00 am – On-site Registration
    9:00 am – Conference Start
    11:45 pm – Day one concludes

    Day Two
    8:30 am – Flag Raising/Conference Start
    4:00 pm – Conference Concludes – Depart for Home

  • Lodging
    The COLT session prices DO NOT include lodging. Each chapter needs to make their own lodging arrangements. You may contact The Leadership Center directly at 402.694.3934 starting April 17, to make reservations to stay in the hotel facilities or the dorms (cabins). All payment for lodging needs to be made directly to The Leadership Center. TLC will provide more specific information on lodging options and costs.

    Chapters may choose to stay at another site/hotel – that is your chapter’s decision.

  • Attire
    Students should wear nice school clothes (jeans, shirts) during COLT. Chapters may wear officer shirts if they have them. Students will need official dress. Please bring that for the banquet and for opening ceremonies competition.

    Activities
    There will be breakout sessions as chapter officer groups, as well as chapter officer team meetings. There will be organized recreation – students may bring gym clothes/shoes. There will also be an Opening Ceremonies competition after the banquet and students will need official dress.

    Opening Ceremonies  Competition
    This is an informal competition for chapter officer teams to practice conducting opening ceremonies for chapter meetings.

    Other Information
    –Consider bringing laptops to use during chapter officer team planning time
    –Monitor students for illness before leaving home – if students are sick, please do not bring them to COLT.
    –Bring your students CTSO Medical Release Forms and keep them with you (the advisor) during the session.

    Student Supervision
    Please review with your administration any procedures to follow in a discipline situation. Advisors WILL BE responsible for handling any discipline situation that occurs. Nebraska Department of Education policy does not allow for FFA staff members or contracted workers to be involved in direct disciplinary actions for students attending a conference.

The Nebraska FFA Association is financially supported through the Nebraska Center for Student Leadership and Extended Learning at the Nebraska Department of Education. Support for programs is partially provided through the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, administered through the Nebraska Department of Education. However, the contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the United States Department of Education, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government.

It is the policy of the Nebraska Department of Education not to discriminate on the basis of gender, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, age or national origin in its education programs, administration, policies, employment or other agency programs.

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