10.26.09 – Last week, three members of The Bass Federation took part in the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN.
Mark Gintert and Tisha West of the TBF National Office and Ken Gibbs the Indiana State Youth Director spent three days with a show booth and an interactive display with one of the largest conventions in the country, The National FFA Convention.
Here, over 50,000 attendees from all over the country meet in an annual affair that brings together the leaders of tomorrow along with vendors from the agriculture and vocational businesses in a huge convention setting.
This event draws more people annually then the NCAA Final Four Basketball Tournament when it has been hosted in this town. Needless to say, it’s a big event and the TBF was proud to be a part of it!
In the convention center, TBF had a booth in the “Teachers World” section of the convention hall. Here we displayed several TBF programs including our Student Angler Federation and our new Eyewear Club Fundraiser.
As teachers came by the display, we caught their eye with our classroom DVD playing on a desktop monitor and a table full of colorful brochures. We collected over 90 names of educators interested in our program.
We continued the interaction at Lucas Oil Stadium where we joined forces with the FLW Outdoors to create an interactive carnival for the FFA Students.
Ken Gibbs of the Indiana TBF was on hand to personally work with all the students who participated in our Reel Kids Casting competition. Prizes were given out based upon students accuracy with a rod and reel, as well as their interactive ability with the Wii video game that was set up on a 10’ X 10’ screen on the FLW’s National Guard College Fishing trailer.
The result of this 3 day student extravaganza was our ability to interact with some of the finest young adults that we have ever met, and the collection of a huge list of educators who are truly interested in getting students reacquainted with the great outdoors.
The event was a huge success for the TBF and we anticipate a long running relationship with the fine members and staff of the FFA!
