MPCHS FFA learn at IAT Conference

ANKENY — Mt. Pleasant High School FFA sent seven students to the IAT (Ignite, Amplify, and Transform) Conference in Ankeny where participated in the Ignite and Amplify portions of the event.

For ninth grade students like Caden Mullin and Melanie Liechty attending an IAT conference means exploring connections through FFA in Ignite sessions.

According to the Iowa FFA Association, these ninth grade MPCHS students spent the day learning about careers in agriculture, FFA opportunities, managing emotional fuel tanks, diversity and similarities among members, servant leadership and service planning, and leading with integrity.

The rest of the group, made up of sophomores Jacie Campbell, Tyi Alter, Alexis Francy, Briar Bender, and Chase VanBibber participated in the Amplify portion of the conference.

The Iowa FFA Association reserves this portion of the conference for 10th and 11th grade students to focus on student development.

The IAT conference consistently rotates between themes of vision and purpose each year for the Amplify segment.

This year, MPCHS FFA students focused on learning about “Purpose: Connect. Care. Create.”

According to the conference information, they learned how to establish purpose as a daily practice and draft a leader purpose statement.

Additionally, they discovered how people connect to purpose, what it means to live to serve as a leader, and the difference between living with purpose and completing action items.

The sophomores further identified their talents, the value in self-care as leaders, and how to live out their purpose plans at home during the conference.

They also took time to examine methods for serving others while pursuing purpose and drafted a personal purpose team.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com