Seven Iowa State students will conclude their year as state FFA officers by running the 69th State FFA Leadership Conference at Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Des Moines, April 17-19.

The State FFA Officers have been planning the State Leadership Conference since January for the 3,500 FFA members from around the state who are expected to attend the conference, said State FFA President Grant Belden, a senior in agriculture business.

“We started planning and generating ideas way back in November. However, most of the work was done over the last four and a half months,” Belden said. “Maturity-wise, we’ve been training all year to develop the leadership skills needed to handle this kind of an event.”

The theme of the Conference is “FFA: Racing Towards a Vision …”

Belden said this year the state officers had the opportunity to travel to 14 different states and five countries, travel 40,000 miles and perform workshops at 232 high schools. “We spent much of our time giving speeches, meeting and spending time with FFA members and promoting the largest growing industry in our country — agriculture.”

The conference, Belden said, will reflect the activities conducted during the year to “inform members about the opportunities available through the FFA and to allow them to enhance their premier leadership, personal growth and career success.”

State FFA Vice President for the Northwest District Renae Rubsam, a freshman in agriculture education, said the conference highlights will include leadership workshops, a career show, career development events and a dance.

There will be a keynote address by former National FFA Officer Andrew McCrea. Governor Terry Branstad will present the National Superior Chapter Award. Also, the new state officer team for 1997-98 will be elected Saturday.

Rubsam said she looks forward to seeing the members compete in events and participate in the conference.

“There are a lot of members we’ve met throughout the year. It will be great to see them excel,” Rubsam said.

Brice Leonard, a freshman in agriculture systems technology and the state FFA vice president for the South Central District, said he is looking forward to seeing participants receive their awards, seeing the members learn more about FFA and the opportunities in which they can partake.

“The state officers run the entire conference,” Leonard said. “For example, we make sure people are in the right place at the right time, that the lights are on and off when they are supposed to be, and that everyone receives the awards that they have earned. Just as importantly, we want to keep all of the enthusiasm up and have a lot of fun.”