Learning In The Capital

In the summer of 2019, I had the opportunity to attend the Washington Leadership Conference through FFA. The conference was a weeklong visit in Washington, D.C., where I toured a number of monuments, museums, and other sites. Not only did I learn more about our nation’s history but I also learned how to find my purpose and how to promote the future of agriculture.

We discussed the issues in our country such as food insecurity and even participated in a poverty dinner where we were placed in different social classes. Some participants were given specific situations, such as being moved from low class to high class and vice versa. The overall experience was eye-opening. I discovered I may not be able to change the world as a whole but I can still make an impact by starting with the issues in my community. It may not be as big of an impact on others but it is still a change for the better. We walked through the setbacks we might encounter trying to help our communities to improve and how to overcome those challenges.

I made connections with people from all over the U.S. and over six months later I am still keeping in touch with several of them. I know if I ever need advice or encouragement I could contact any of the friends I made during my time at WLC for help. Having experienced WLC together we know what to expect and how to support one another as we all try to achieve our goals in advocating for agriculture and making an impact on others. I am beyond thankful for the opportunity and learning experience through the Washington Leadership Conference. I truly believe it’s an opportunity that every FFA member should get the chance to experience.