INDIANAPOLIS -- The National FFA convention began Wednesday in Indianapolis, swarming the city with the organization's blue jackets and bringing about $40 million to boost the central Indiana economy.

High school students began pouring into the city earlier this week in anticipation of the three-day convention.

The students attend workshops that focus on agricultural leadership, careers and educational opportunities.

About 55,000 attendees are expected for the convention, which takes place at the Indiana Convention Center, Conseco Fieldhouse and Lucas Oil Stadium.

About 400 exhibitors hope to get a large chunk of the cash visitors plunk down during the convention, and the exhibitors themselves also pump money into the Indianapolis economy.

"I'll be doing a lot of shopping while I'm here," said Sheri Pittman, an exhibitor from the Carolinas. "I'm very interested in going to Nordstrom."

About 13,000 rooms were booked in hotels downtown and in the surrounding suburbs, 6News' Julie Pursley reported.

"It's 128 hotels, which is actually more hotels than even the Super Bowl will use when they come in 2012, so it's pretty big,” said Phil Ray, general manager of the Omni Hotel downtown, which is sold out on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Indianapolis Convention and Visitors Bureau said the FFA event will lead to bookings of about 49,000 hotel rooms total this week.

"It's important in any year, in particular in these tough times, when cities are being very competitive for large conventions and groups," said Bill Benner, of ICVB. "That we have FFA is an incredible bonus."

FFA dollars will continue to pour into Indianapolis through 2012. After that, the convention moves to Louisville for three years before returning to Indy in 2016.