INDIANAPOLIS -- It's one of the city's largest conventions, but the annual gathering of young FFA members from across the country could soon see its final days in Indianapolis.

The massive convention came to the Circle City in 2006 after spending 72 years in Kansas City, Mo., and another six in Louisville, Ky., 6News' Derrik Thomas reported.

The convention will remain in Indianapolis through 2012, but after that it will be up to the organization's board to decide its future.

City officials are lobbying hard to keep the convention.

"We want to keep it very badly. This is our biggest convention, a $40 million piece of business," said Bill Benner of the Indianapolis Convention and Visitor Bureau. "But beyond that, it is a great opportunity for Indianapolis to showcase itself and its amenities to the leaders of the next generation."

Businesses too want to keep the FFA members coming back.

"The bid for the future is critical," said Chris Ratay, spokesman for the Omni Hotel. "We don't want the FFA to go anywhere else. We want this to be their home."

Still, some FFA members said it might be time to switch things up.

"It's been nice to come here, but after seven years of Indianapolis, I would like to go back to Louisville," said agriculture teacher Jerry Schmidt, who has attended the convention for 30 years. "I really like the tours we took, like the bat factory, and just a number of opportunities for kids to see another part of the country."

FFA officials told Thomas that they appreciated city leaders' enthusiasm, but wouldn't make any commitments.

"It is an attractive convention. We appreciate Indianapolis' willingness to apply to continue to hold the convention," said FFA CEO Doug Loudenslager.

A nine-member board will decide in the next 30 to 60 days where the convention will head after 2012. The headquarters of FFA -- which once stood for Future Farmers of America -- are based in Indianapolis.