Fifteen Centre FFA members and advisers attended the 85th National FFA Convention and Expo from Oct. 23 through Saturday at Indianapolis, Ind.

Members heard keynote addresses by Olympic figure skater and cancer survivor Scott Hamilton and spokesperson for the Indianapolis Colts Josh Bleill. They also attended student leadership workshops to sharpen their leadership and character skills.

The theme for the convention was “Grow.” It was incorporated into activities throughout the event and will be the theme for the remainder of the school year.

Members participated in the FFA nationwide service activity, the “FFA Rally to Fight Hunger,” in which 1,005,048 meals were packaged. The rally launches the organization’s “Feeding the World — Starting at Home” initiative aimed at reducing hunger in the United States and around the world.

Some 10,000 members, advisers and volunteers from across the country worked together in hour-long shifts over a three-day period at Lucas Oil Stadium. Half of the meals will be distributed through Gleaners Food Bank in Central Indiana. The other half will be sent overseas to fight hunger in Haiti.

Centre FFA members who participated were Carrie Carlson, Bryce Naerebout, James Mercer, Callie Riffel, Adam Makovec, Kailyn Riffel, Tom Oborny, Courtney Hett, Kevin Lewis, Abigail Svoboda, Kyle Riffel, Tabitha Oborny, and Carissa Shields.