This summer the Fair Grove FFA took a trip to Washington D.C. for the Washington Leadership Conference. The WLC is held in Washington D.C. every year and is put on by the FFA (Future Farmers of America). Although it is put on every year, the Fair Grove chapter only goes every other year. Sponsor Matthew Crutcher took seniors Kelsey Brunkhorst, Matia Hartley, Cole Clark, Colbie Covert, and juniors Mattie Cobban and Sierra Anderjaska, who are all officers for the FFA on the trip to D.C. To help fund for the trip the students sold different items at last year’s FFA banquet. It was the student’s responsibility to raise up the money to go on the trip. The trip takes a lot of money to go on so the students really had to work hard for their money if they wanted to go on the trip.
The WLC is a motivational conference with many different sessions focused on leadership and life in Washington D.C. Students are expected to wear official dress to these sessions which includes, black slacks or skirts for girls, black shoes and socks, black tie or scarf for girls, white collared button up shirt, and the famous blue corduroy FFA jacket. When they get to the conference they are split up from the people in their chapter and room with other FFA students from across the country. They participate in civil engagement activities where they apply what they have learned from WLC to help the community.
Not only was the trip all about business it was full of fun too. The Fair Grove officers went to the Arlington National Cemetery, the Lincoln memorial, and many other sights in Washington D.C. Kelsey Brunkhorst stated, “Crutcher also took us to see the White House and the Supreme Court.” There is no doubt the FFA has opened many doors for these students and gave them the opportunity of a lifetime to go see all the sights and learn many life lessons in Washington D.C.