The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Leadership Conference started today on April 16, bringing students from across Nebraska together for three days of competition and leadership development.
Students compete in a wide range of events designed to test both knowledge and real world skills. These include objective tests, which are typically 100 question exams covering topics from agribusiness to hospitality; presentation events, where students develop and deliver business plans or proposals; and role play events, which simulate real world business scenarios judged by industry professionals.
Additional contests include production events, where students demonstrate technical skills using programs like Word and Excel, and chapter projects that highlight community service or chapter activities.
Several high schools in the area have FBLA chapters including, Amherst, Broken Bow, Grand Island Central Catholic, Grand Island Northwest, Kearney, Litchfield, Loup County, Minden, Ord, Overton, Pleasanton, Ravenna, Saint Paul, Sandhills, Sargent Stapleton and S-E-M.
Depending on the FBLA event some students competed at the district level to move onto state while some contests students were able to automatically go onto to compete at the state level. Each FBLA member can compete in up to five events. Competitions are taking place Thursday and Friday, followed by an awards ceremony on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
Among those competing this week at State FBLA is a senior at Litchfield Public Schools, James Fletcher who is also the organizations National Mountain Plains Region Vice President. Fletcher shares more about the contests he is competing in this year.
FBLA Involvement
In addition to competition, FBLA chapters will have the opportunity to get recognized at the state level for participating with a ribbon project that range from leadership and community focused activities including service projects and business engagement efforts at the local level. Fletcher highlights Litchfield Public Schools involvement with the ribbon projects.
Top finishers at the state conference will advance to the National Leadership Conference this summer June 29 through July 2, 2026 in San Antonio.
For many students, the state conference is an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge, gain hands on experience and explore potential career paths in business and related fields. While being involved in the FBLA program over the years, Fletcher noted that the program has several benefits for high school students.
As the Mountain Plains Region Vice President Fletcher represents members across North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. Fletcher said, his goal in this position is to work on strengthen connections and improve member experiences across the region.
According to the Nebraska FBLA website there are over 5,800 students in more than 150 high schools and middle schools in Nebraska that participate in the FBLA program.
