The Idaho Democratic Party’s state convention began Thursday at The Boise Hotel and Conference Center, 3300 Vista Ave.

Democratic Party Chairman Larry Grant said the three-day event will include selecting delegates to attend the party’s national convention this summer and hammering out a platform.

Platform approval will begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, with election of delegates to follow at 8:30 p.m.

Top Democratic officials, legislative and congressional candidates and party representatives from Idaho’s 44 counties are expected to attend.

Highlights include:

• Jimmy Farris, a former NFL player running against Republican Raul Labrador in Idaho’s 1st Congressional District, will speak at noon Friday.

• Former state Sen. Nicole LeFavour will talk about her race against GOP Rep. Mike Simpson in the 2nd Congressional District, noon Saturday.

The convention includes several political educational sessions on topics like getting young people involved, dealing with the media, grass-roots organizing, the “art” of knocking on doors, fundraising and more.

The Democratic National Convention will take place the week of Sept. 3 in Charlotte, N.C.

Idaho Republicans will hold their 2012 convention next week in Twin Falls.