WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nearly 300 FFA state officers recently attended the National FFA State Officer Summit in Washington, D.C. While in the nation’s capital, the officers advocated for agriculture and agricultural education.

The 291 officers met with their representatives to push for the extension of funding for FFA through the farm bill, according to a FFA release. They also invited legislators to join the Congressional FFA Caucus. The summit was July 22-26.

The officers asked their representatives to reauthorize the Youth Leadership Grant in the farm bill. The grant supports youth organizations including FFA, the National 4-H Council, Boys Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America, the release said. The funding provides consistent support for organizations working to prepare the next generation global leaders in agriculture, the release explained.

Speaking with their elected representatives was a critical part of the summit experience, said Creed Monroe, northeast state vice president of Iowa FFA.

“Although we unfortunately had to meet virtually, all of our representatives were very receptive to our concerns,” he told Farm World. “Some of our representatives were already a part of the FFA caucus, and all of them were very supportive of the farm bill and willing to advocate and support youth organizations such as the FFA.

“Those who were not a part of the caucus took interest in learning more about the caucus and potentially supporting it as well.”

The caucus was founded by Democrats and Republicans in both the House and Senate. It advocates for strong career and technical education legislation, maintaining a youth perspective in agriculture and nutrition policy, and strengthening relationships between Congress and agricultural education teachers and FFA members, the release said.

Avery Cole, Kentucky FFA state vice president, said she was grateful for the opportunity to speak with her elected representatives.

“Our legislators and their legislative assistants were very interested in hearing from us and wanted to become more informed on the topic,” she told Farm World. “Our legislators were also very interested in joining the Congressional FFA Caucus.”

It was important for the officers to share their thoughts on the leadership grant with their legislators, Cole noted. The legislators want to hear from their constituents and the viewpoints of the people they are selected to represent, she added.

“The Youth Leadership Grant plays an integral role in providing funding for FFA and other youth programs, and I think that our representatives valued hearing from FFA members on the matter,” Cole said. “Overall, our legislators were supportive of the Youth Leadership Grant and its reauthorization.”

Because FFA members are the ones affected by the potential funding of the grant, it’s key they share their thoughts on the grant with legislators, Monroe pointed out.

“(Members) are also able to share their stories and explain how the bill has or will affect them. The representatives we talked to explained the importance of stories and how they can be more impactful when advocating.”

The annual summit allows state officers to share their passion and learn more about FFA, Monroe said. This year, the officers learned how to be better advocates for agriculture and FFA through professional communication, social media and daily conversations, he said.

“I personally feel that successful advocacy is not a ‘sprint, but rather a marathon,’” he said. “In order to create true change that will stand the test of time you must plant the ‘seeds’ of change in someone’s mind and allow the ‘roots’ to grow deep enough to withstand challenges and opposition. I learned that you cannot force your ideas or opinions on someone and expect change, and respectful communication will always get you further than aggression.”

Cole said the summit provided her and her teammates the opportunity to meet with other state teams and gain valuable insight as to what it looks like to be an advocate.

“Being enveloped by the undercurrent of advocacy that runs through Washington, D.C., helped amplify the experience,” she said. “Because of State Officer Summit, I have learned how to better understand my audience and serve as an advocate on social media. Overall, the experience made me a much more passionate agricultural advocate.”

The officers also had time for some sightseeing. Cole said she enjoyed the monument tour.

“Washington is one of my favorite cities because of its rich and meaningful history,” she said. “My favorite part was walking around the Lincoln Memorial and gazing out upon the Washington Monument with my teammates.”

Monroe said he and some teammates toured the botanical gardens, and were treated to a private tour of the Capitol building. He also participated in a monument tour.

“The most touching memorial for me was the World War II memorial,” Monroe recalled. “The position of the World War II memorial is beautiful and perfectly placed between the Lincoln Memorial and Washington Monument, with the reflecting pool between. I took some time and a moment of silence to just soak in the experience and truly try and understand the magnitude of the memorial and the war.”