INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The National FFA Convention for the first time in history, will stream live, not just on RFD-TV, but now online, as well as all iPad, iPhone, Android and Blackberry mobile devices via the newly launched Alltech Ag Network on iHigh.com 

“Agriculture is taking the lead in communications, moving high-tech to engage the world in its story,” said Billy Frey, general manager of the Alltech Ag Network. “iHigh.com’s unique platform enables it to, for example, on a recent Friday night, broadcast more than 170 high school football games simultaneously and live to mobile devices free of charge. This is a capability far beyond many major sports organizations and applications. FFA is now harnessing this power, broadening its reach at a time when our growing population is moving increasingly far away from the stories of the farm and the origins of their food.”

According to Meyer, National FFA is thrilled to begin this new partnership with Alltech, a global animal health and nutrition company and iHigh, the Global Youth Network designed to provide free web services to schools, students and youth organizations, currently enabling live streaming of events and mobile broadcasting. Together, Alltech and iHigh.com  will work together to provide this high-tech opportunity to National FFA, alongside RFD-TV, the television network that currently broadcasts the convention live on cable TV.

In addition to streaming the nine general sessions of the National FFA Convention live in real-time, FFA will also use the iHigh site to promote other initiatives including the Connect campaign to reach out to former and current FFA members to connect with the organization online to further promote ag education.

“During breaks, we will air banner commercials to promote the Connect campaign and other conferences and events coming up of interest to FFA members, future, past and present,” she said.

Meyer said that National FFA is “excited to see how this all works.”

“We hope to see strong results,” she added. “Clicks, views and general analytics will help determine if we will expand down the line.”

The broadcast schedule for the upcoming FFA National Convention in Indianapolis, Ind. is as follows (times are listed in EST):

I Believe – Opening Session – Oct. 19, 7:15 p.m.

I Believe in Action – Second Session – Oct. 20, 2 p.m.

I Believe in ... – Third Session at – Oct. 20, 7:30 p.m.

I Believe in Service – Fourth Session – Oct. 21, 8 a.m.

I Believe in Leadership – Fifth Session – Oct. 21, 12 p.m.

I Believe in Excellence – Sixth Session – Oct. 21, 3 p.m.

I Believe in Possibilities – Seventh Session – Oct. 21, 7 p.m.

I Believe in Passion – Eighth Session – Oct. 22, 7:45 a.m.

I Believe in the Future – Ninth Session – Oct. 22, 1:30 p.m.

To view the broadcasts live on the Internet or on an iPad, go to ffa.ihigh.com For mobile phone access, including iPhones, Androids and some BlackBerrys, the broadcasts may be viewed at m.ihigh.com/ffa by clicking on the “Media” button and selecting the smartphone type to view the broadcast.

Meyer said that broadcasts will be accessible live and on-demand at no cost to users.

“The great thing about iHigh is that it is already in quite a few schools across the country (unlike like the often-blocked video-broadcasting site – YouTube ),” said Kristy Meyer, team leader for marketing and communications at the National FFA Organization. “Students can readily access iHigh videos and instructors will be able to use it in the classroom as opposed to after school hours.”

As FFA membership stands at more than a half-million students throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, iHigh.com expects this to be their largest telecast ever.

“So we can now go well beyond the 55,000 blue jackets sitting in Conseco Fieldhouse during the National FFA Convention and reach out to every other FFA member in the country, how awesome is that!” Meyer enthused.

“iHigh.com is a true supporter of FFA and exemplifies this by providing the means to take our convention message to tens of thousands of FFA members throughout the country and beyond who aren’t able to attend the event,” said National FFA Organization CEO Dwight Armstrong. “This is a major opportunity for FFA and we are extremely grateful for iHigh.com’s expertise, resources and abilities to reach our membership in a new and meaningful way.”