Submitted Photo South Prairie FFA members who attended North Dakota State Fall leadership in September are, front left: front, Layne Korgel, Gracie Rauschenberger, Brylee Beeter, Maddie Hogue, Natalee Becker, Joshua Lindbo; back, Breana Mindt, Ella Novak, Callie Korslien, Miley Nelson, Bryeigh McBride, Andrew Nuemiller, Logan Hanneman, Brekken Neshem, Bridget Carlston, Taylor Weber, Ella Buen, Carter Sys. Not pictured is Alysa Rice.

Nineteen South Prairie FFA members attended North Dakota State Fall Leadership in Bismarck Sept. 28-29. The annual conference in Bismarck is hosted by the North Dakota FFA Association.

Participants attended four different conferences, based on grade level.

The 101 Conference, designed for junior high and freshman members, aimed to enhance leadership skills, etiquette and knowledge of FFA. Blue Conference, intended for sophomores and juniors, focused on teamwork with engaging and interactive training, based on the 10 Techniques to Help Your Teams Work curriculum by Rhett Laubach.

In the Gold Conference, intended for juniors and seniors, the focus was on basic and advanced elements of teamwork, applicable to FFA chapter officers. YourNextSpeaker, LLC from Oklahoma led the training with professional speakers offering small group discussions and hands-on activities.

The Aspire Conference also was held. This conference is intended for members looking to run for state office.

South Prairie had members attend three of the four conferences. Six members attended the 101 Conference. Five attended the Blue Conference, and eight members attended the Gold Conference.

“I learned more about Career Development events. My favorite part was meeting and talking to new people that I met,” said Ella Novak, an eighth grade student and Conference 101 attendee.

“I learned how to be a better person in FFA and not to take too much pride,” said Alysa Rice, sophomore and Blue Conference attendee.

Maddie Hogue, a senior at South Prairie, attended the Gold Conference.

“I learned how networking and creating a fun space to be in is one of the best ways to recruit new members into FFA. My favorite part of the conference was getting to meet members from all over the state and get to hear about the different activities and events that FFA chapters put on,” Hogue said.

The Fall Leadership Conference drew 917 FFA members statewide.