The Atlantic School District’s Board of Education Monday night, approved a recommendation by Superintendent Dr. Michael Amstein allowing district FFA students to attend the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky, this fall. Erik Miller, Agricultural Education Instructor/FFA Advisor, told the board it’s a great opportunity for seven students who are selected to attend the convention to learn and make new friends from around the country. Miller said it’s a good way for the FFA chapter to gain publicity, as well as leadership experience.

The convention is slated to take place October 30^th through November 2^nd. The keynote speaker is University of Louisville Head Basketball Coach Rick Pitino, who will talk about his 10 step motivational process to success. Other speakers include New York City Fire Dept. veteran Joe Torrillo, who was twice buried in the twin tower collapses on 9-11, as he took part in rescue efforts, and, others. Entertainment includes a concert by Country music star Dierks Bentley, a rodeo, hypnotist show and a dance.

Miller says more than 5,000 students are expected to attend the convention, which allows the students to come out of their local group shell, and meet people they might otherwise not have had the opportunity to meet.

Miller says giving students an assignment to collect names of other students from around the country and its territories makes for a good “ice-breaker.” He says usually, the first night of the convention, the kids stick together in the same group they came in, but by the end of the convention, they’ve made new friends and shared experiences. It also gives them “life lessons” on how to stay safe in the big city.

The trip is being paid for through local fundraising efforts, and other sources. It’s the first time in over 10-years students from Atlantic have attended a national FFA convention.