Kathryn Vaught and Brookelyn Janssen visit Washington D.C.
Two Marais des Cygnes Valley FFA members, Kathryn Vaught and Brookelyn Janssen, along with other FFA members from throughout the country, converged on Washington, D.C., this past summer to analyze their personal skills and interests, develop leadership skills and create a meaningful community service plan that will make a difference in their home communities.
More than 2,100 students participated in the 2017 Washington Leadership Conference, the second-largest student experience that the National FFA Organization hosts each year. June 13-18, 2017, Vaught and Janssen and other FFA members spent a week under the guidance of professionals, counselors and FFA staff members. In workshops, seminars and small groups, FFA members focused on identifying and developing their personal strengths and goals while undergoing comprehensive leadership training that will help them guide their local FFA chapters.
Students also analyzed the needs of their communities back home, developed a wide-range and high-impact community service initiatives, and implemented their plan with the help of their FFA chapter upon return home.
During their time in D.C., Vaught and Janssen also experienced the history of the nation’s capital, touring landmarks including the Washington Monument, War Memorial, the National Mall, Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Capitol, among others.
When asked about their most memorable experience during the trip, Vaught said, “The WLC staff taught us how we can use everybody’s differences to work together and they also helped us set personal goals by teaching us how to set an achievable one.”
“Going to WLC was such a life changer,” Janssen said. “I definitely came back with an open mind and a better plan to make not just my school a better place but my community too! Seeing so many others that enjoy the same association as I do was amazing. I love meeting new people and watching how their eyes lit up when they talked about something they loved.”
The 2017 Washington Leadership Conference is sponsored through the National FFA Foundation. The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to 629,367 student members who belong to one of 7,757 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
Information and photo thanks to Danny Rice, MdCV FFA adviser.
