Future National FFA Convention Site Selection Process

The growth and prestige of the national FFA convention is something no one could have foreseen. In 1999, attendance was just under 47,000 and the 2000 convention posted 45,686 attendees. While the current convention commitment in Louisville does not end until 2005, FFA needs to begin the process now to secure facilities for the future. FFA members and advisors have been, and will be, at the heart of this very important decision.

In late November, the National FFA selected Smith, Bucklin & Associates, a professional consultant, to determine the proper process for obtaining competitive proposals from convention sites. Most importantly, the site selection process will be guided by how each decision affects the experience for thousands of students and teachers that attend each year. Input from all stakeholders (including teachers, state and national leaders, delegates and others) is currently being gathered, now through May 2001. This input will help the National FFA Organization determine the key selection criteria which will result in a scorecard used to compare cities.

National FFA needs your feedback regarding the factors listed below. What criteria is important for 2006 and beyond?

• Handicap accessible convention facilities and city infrastructure (ADA approved)

• Sufficient pool of qualified volunteers, such as career development event (CDE) judges, etc.

• Cooperative convention & visitors bureau to provide housing and registration services

• Cooperative city/county police department to provide a safe and secure convention experience.

• State sales tax exemption for hotel rooms and convention costs

• City/state commitment to diversity

• Cooperative labor union or city designation as a "right to work state"

• Land grant university within 60 miles of convention city

• Sufficient double-bedded sleeping room capacity within 30 miles of convention site

• Main arena seating for 18-20,000 participants per session

• Appropriate CDE sites and/or facilities on-site or within 20 miles for 24 events

• Adequate career show exhibit space (130,000 net square feet)

• Adequate meeting space for workshops, meetings, etc.

• Adequate space for on-site shopping mall

• City/facility with a sufficient variety of economical food options on and off-site

• Adequate airport flight capacity (airlines, number of flights)

• Adequate bus, van and vehicle parking

• Sufficient variety of educational and agricultural tour options

• Potential for multiple events to occur during the convention (National Association of Farm Broadcasters, Ag Council of America, etc.)

• Reasonable hotel rates

• Reasonable food costs on and off-site.

• Reasonable air fares

• Convention city within driving distance (500-1,000 miles) of the highest number of FFA members

• Hotel options within a reasonable distance (30 miles of the convention center)

• Airport easily accessible and within reasonable distance of the convention center and hotels

• All convention activities in one place within walking distance of each other

• Shuttle bus service/local transportation service available between convention center and major hotels

• Educational and agricultural tour options available within a reasonable distance (30 miles)

• Parking on-site or within reasonable walking distance

• Variety of hotel choices and amenities

• Variety of restaurant choices to include price and cuisine

• Host city location and convention dates lower potential for inclement weather

• Shopping and restaurants within walking distance of convention facility

• Projected host city costs allow National FFA Organization to maintain low registration fee

• Host city and/or Chamber of Commerce raise money to help reduce convention costs

• Host city commits to provide a city transition team

• Headquarters hotel (~1000 rooms) within walking distance of convention center

• Host City provide (X) number of site-inspection/planning air tickets for FFA staff annually

• Host city provides unique "draws," both geographic and cultural, that add to convention experience

• Host city generates positive image for an educational youth convention

• Facility/city has adequate and appropriate local places to relax during "down time"

• Site is available two weeks prior to national elections to maximize media coverage

• Presence of FFA chapters within 30 miles of convention city

• Significant agricultural industry presence in convention city

Beginning now, an interactive website located at http://www.ffa.org provides visitors with up-to-date status reports and an opportunity to provide feedback and answer questions. Log on today to provide your insight.

Once that input is gathered, a request for proposal will be distributed to various cities during the summer of 2001. FFA anticipates announcing the two cities in early 2002. After extensive visits to these two cities by board members and selected national officers and staff, a decision will be made in July 2002 by the National FFA Board of Directors. The board’s decision will be based on feedback gathered in early spring 2001 and how well each city meets the needs of the national convention.

Anna Melodia and Tony Small (National FFA), Belinda Chason (Florida Director of Ag Ed), and Jay Jackman (NAAE) represented Team Ag*Ed at the American Farm Bureau Convention in Orlando in January 2001. The highlight of the Team Ag*Ed display was the ag ed program at Hungerford Prep High School in Orlando. Ag teacher Wendy Warner and her students educated convention participants about Hungerford’s agriscience curriculum.