National FFA Hosts Next Gen Conferences for High School Members

The career-focused events provide hands-on learning and industry exploration.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:18am

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The National FFA Organization is hosting a series of Next Gen conferences three times a year, offering high school FFA members the opportunity to explore in-demand career pathways through hands-on learning, industry roundtables, and facility tours. The first 2026 conference was held in Raleigh, North Carolina, with a focus on power, structural, and technical systems.

Why it matters

These Next Gen conferences allow FFA members to get an early start on mapping out their future careers before graduating high school, providing valuable exposure to industries with growing job opportunities.

The details

The Raleigh event hosted 72 FFA members from around the country, who toured facilities like John Deere Turf Care and BASF to learn about potential career paths. Members apply to attend the Next Gen Conferences, which are designed to complement FFA's mission of developing the next generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators in agriculture and related fields.

  • The first FFA Next Gen Conference of 2026 was held in Raleigh, North Carolina earlier this month (March 2026).
  • Next Gen Conferences occur three times a year.

The players

National FFA Organization

A youth organization that provides agricultural and leadership development programs for high school students.

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What’s next

FFA members can apply to attend the upcoming Next Gen Conferences later this year to continue exploring career opportunities in agriculture and related industries.

The takeaway

The National FFA's Next Gen Conferences give high school students an invaluable head start on charting their future career paths, providing hands-on learning and industry exposure that can help them make more informed decisions about their post-graduation plans.