Thousands of Indiana FFA members will gather next week in a new setting as the organization holds its 97th annual Indiana FFA State Convention at the recently opened Riverview Health Arena at Innovation Mile in Noblesville.
The convention, scheduled for June 15-18, comes after several years at Purdue University in West Lafayette. Organizers were forced to relocate this year’s event because Elliott Hall of Music, the convention’s longtime home on Purdue’s campus, is undergoing construction.
“We are really excited about this new location because it’s centrally located in the state. There’s also a lot of lodging and food options around that area and there’s no shortage of things to do around Noblesville,” said Kaitlyn Maruszewski, Indiana FFA president for 2025-26.
The $36.5 million arena, which officially opened in August 2025, serves as the home court for the Noblesville Boom, the NBA G League affiliate of the Indiana Pacers. Located just northeast of Indianapolis near Interstate 69, the facility offers organizers new opportunities to enhance the convention experience.
“We’ve got lots of new opportunities with lights and staging and interesting and fun things that we can do during our general sessions. We also have an expanded career expo this year, so FFA members can go and meet with those businesses and companies that they could one day work for,” says Maruszewski.
The convention’s annual career expo will be held at nearby Hamilton Southeastern High School, where students will have opportunities to connect with employers, colleges and industry organizations. The week will also feature leadership workshops, competitions, recognition ceremonies and networking events for the state’s agricultural education students.
The week-long event serves as the organization’s largest annual gathering. Outstanding students will be recognized for achievements in Supervised Agricultural Experiences, Career Development Events and other leadership programs. Recipients of the Hoosier FFA Degree will also be honored, and the incoming Indiana FFA state officer team will be installed.
This year’s convention theme, “Unwritten,” is designed to encourage members to embrace the opportunities and decisions that will shape their futures.
“The future is unwritten and it’s our story to write. And so we hope that our theme really empowers those FFA members that they get to write their own future, their own story, and the decisions and choices that they make today are what impact that future,” she says.
The convention will begin June 15 with Career Development Event competitions and a statewide service project at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers before shifting to general sessions and programming at the Noblesville arena.
One of the convention’s most anticipated moments will come during the final session when Indiana FFA announces the recipient of the 2025-26 Golden Owl Award, recognizing the state’s Agricultural Educator of the Year.
From a field of 114 nominees, eight finalists have been selected for the honor. Each finalist will receive a plaque and a $500 award, while the overall winner will receive the Golden Owl trophy and an additional $3,000 to support classroom and program initiatives.
“Agricultural education would not be possible without those agricultural educators. And so, our Golden Owl Award is an opportunity to highlight agriculture teachers in our state that are really mentoring those students and really propelling their FFA chapters forward,” Maruszewski says.
The Golden Owl Award is sponsored by Nationwide and Farm Credit Mid-America. Nationwide will also contribute $5,000 to the Indiana FFA organization to support student and educator development programs.
Additional activities throughout the week include the Keystone Kickback Lounge, sponsored by Keystone Cooperative, which offers students snacks, refreshments and recreational activities between leadership sessions and competitions.
For Indiana FFA members, advisors and supporters, the convention represents both a celebration of accomplishments and a look toward the future — a fitting reflection of a theme centered on stories still waiting to be written.
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