07/14/2026
Tuesday, June 30th the Ashland FFA Floral Team left for the American Institute of Floral Design (AIFD) Symposium. From creating metal body pieces to sympathy designs, main stages to wedding backdrop designs, to so much more the floral team learned from AIFD members throughout the week, Bringing AIFD to FFA was an extraordinary experience.
This trip has created a backbone for the girls to begin preparing for the national competition in October. Creating vertical sympathy pieces expanded their realm of comfort teaching them about negative space, depth and height of a design. Wire work tested their craftsmanship and creative thinking. Willow based bouquets showed the importance of tension and line. The large wedding backdrop taught teamwork, perseverance and seeing the full picture.
We had the opportunity to watch multiple Main Stage presentations from various AIFD members. We learned about the use of AI in floral work, plants and designs grown and inspired by outer space, and sustainability in sympathy work.
None of this trip would have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors: The Ashland City Schools Foundation, Ashland County Community Foundation Women’s Fund, Ashland FFA Alumni, Ashland Tractor Supply, Bo Lacey Construction, Broerman Insurance Agency, Centerra Co-op, Mrs. Martha Crone, Farm & Home Hardware, Hord Family Farms, Mrs. Maxine Swaisgood, and Wellington Implement. Thank you for your support!
