Young leaders in blue and gold

A sea of blue corduroy jackets transformed the University of Minnesota Twin Cities into a hub of agricultural, food and natural resources young leadership April 19-21, 2026, as the 97th Minnesota FFA State Convention brought together the next generation of industry innovators. Hosted across the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses, the event served as a powerful bridge between the state’s rich agricultural heritage and the cutting-edge research defining its future within the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS).

The convention saw an impressive turnout, with 5,280 FFA members in 7th through 12th grades and their supporters registered to participate. This vibrant group represents a portion of the 16,000+ FFA members across the state — a community supported by 220+ FFA Chapters in Minnesota middle and high schools. Behind these students are 329 dedicated Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources (AFNR) teachers and FFA advisors who work tirelessly to guide the 42,000 Minnesota students currently enrolled in AFNR classes.

University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham addressed FFA leaders and special guests at a reception at 3M Arena at Mariucci during the convention, later sharing that the University was thrilled to welcome more than 6,000 Minnesota FFA members and guests to campus. President Cunningham noted the incredible energy of these "future ag leaders" throughout the event and expressed her enthusiasm for welcoming many of them back to the University as students in the near future. 

The connection between FFA and CFANS was further solidified with the installation of the new state officer team. We are especially proud to share that two of the newly-elected state officers are incoming CFANS students. As they begin their collegiate journey in St. Paul, they will also take on the responsibility of representing FFA members across Minnesota, embodying the student-led spirit that defines both FFA and the CFANS experience.

Throughout the convention, the campus buzzed with the energy of Career Development Events (CDEs), where students applied classroom knowledge to real-world scenarios. These competitions are the heartbeat of the convention, and CFANS faculty play a vital role in their success by serving as CDE chairpeople, ensuring the academic rigor and professional relevance of each contest. The Ag Ed CDE, led by the Department of Agricultural Education, Communication and Marketing, debuted at the convention this year. 

The following CFANS faculty served as chairs for these CDES: 

Ag Communications — Greta Tank, Department of Agricultural Education, Communication and Marketing
Ag Ed — Kirby Schmidt, Department of Agricultural Education, Communication and Marketing 
Agronomy — James Anderson, Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics
Agricultural Mechanics — Lee Thompson, Department of Agricultural Education, Communication and Marketing
Best Informed Greenhand (B.I.G.) — Lee Thompson, Department of Agricultural Education, Communication and Marketing
Companion Animal Science — Rielle Perttu, Department of Animal Science
Dairy Evaluation — Isaac Hagen and Issace Salfer, Department of Animal Science 
Farm Business Management — Pauline Van Nurden, Center for Farm Financial Management 
Fish & Wildlife — Jennifer Menken, Bell MuseumForestry — Lane Moser and Eli Sagor, Department of Forest Resources
Livestock Evaluation — Kyle Rozeboom, Department of Animal Science
Meats Evaluation & Technology — Ryan Cox and Jordan Junkel, Department of Animal Science
Milk Quality & Products — Michael Schutz, Department of Animal Science
Nursery/Landscape — Brandon Miller, Department of Horticultural Science
Poultry Evaluation — Luna Akhtar, Department of Animal Science
Soils — Kari Wolf, Department of Soil, Water and Climate 

From the "Taste of CFANS" event — where students explored everything from food science and candy chromatography to forestry and commodity trading — to the high-stakes competitions in labs and arenas, the convention was a testament to the enduring partnership between the University and Minnesota FFA. As the attendees returned to their home communities, they carried with them not just awards and memories, but a deeper understanding of the pathways available to them at the University of Minnesota. For many of these students, the iconic blue jacket is only the beginning; we look forward to seeing them keep those jackets close while adding University of Minnesota maroon and gold to their collections as they grow into the agricultural, food, and natural resources leaders of tomorrow.