Social distancing did not prevent the Alaska FFA program from hosting its annual convention.
The virtual convention met April 14-16 by Google Classroom and by Zoom. FFA State Advisor Kevin Fochs said it had many elements of a traditional FFA convention, such as presentations by national and state FFA officers, written and live competitions and skills contests.
Many modifications were required, however. Participants in the floriculture competition, for instance, posted photos of themselves making their flower arrangements. FFA members competed in the speech contests and employment skills contest by Zoom. They entered a Zoom room with judges at an appointed time and gave their speeches and interviewed for jobs.
In the agriculture mechanics area, competitors answered questions about sprayer calibration and inspected virtual welds. Veterinary science participants analyzed videos about injecting medications subcutaneously and haltering animals.
Usually those competitions would be hands-on, and FFA members would have demonstrated welds, for instance, or given medications. This year’s competition included agricultural mechanics, floriculture, prepared, creed and extemporaneous speaking, veterinary science, employment skills and agriscience events.
Fochs said the whole event was arranged with the great help of current and past state FFA officers. It was unique to have judges from variety of locations, mostly from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, but even Montana and Texas.
He had two laptops and up to six breakout rooms going at the same time. Awards were posted on Facebook and Instagram.
“It was a challenge for sure,” he said.
There were a few technical glitches, such as an interrupted connection with a judge, but overall it went well, Fochs said.
The virtual convention did have advantages, he said. “When it was all over, we didn’t have a lot of cleanup to do.”
See a TV story about the convention that aired on Channel 2.
