(Atlantic, Iowa) – Each year the Southwest FFA District and Iowa FFA officers plan and facilitate Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) Conferences for FFA members in the Southwest District. Atlantic High School welcomed 140 FFA members from 29 FFA chapters from all over the Southwest district on Monday June 6th. While at Atlantic, district and state officers lead four interactive workshops for FFA Chapter leaders, many of which are officers, for the annual COLT Conference. The workshops facilitated were local FFA Chapter program focused in the areas of advocating for the agriculture industry, connecting with stakeholders, recruiting for the local chapter, and working as a cohesive team. FFA leaders also received training relative to their specific officer duties within the local chapter.

Atlantic FFA Secretary Claire Pellett said, “the day was very fun. I learned a lot about my role as a chapter officer and what I can do to improve my abilities in that area.” Iowa FFA President, Sam Martin, stated, “COLT conference provides a chance for FFA members to learn more about their responsibility as a local leader and is a conference for members to meet and connect with state, district and other chapter officers.”

Front row left to right
Claire Pellett and Charli Goff
Back Row Left to Right
Dylan Comes, Jackson McLaren ,Daniel Freund, DJ Shepperd, Colton Rudy (photo & story submitted by FFA Advisor Eric Miller)

COLT conference programming is designed as a two-year rotation of local leaders training. The focus areas of next year’s program include agriculture literacy, time management, professionalism, and self-confidence. The goal is to engage FFA members in learning about the tools that would allow them to be successful in anything they are part of through high school and beyond. COLT conference is made possible with support from Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance of Iowa through the Iowa FFA Foundation.