Pictured are the members that traveled to Washington D.C.: Shannon Hale, Miah Rue, Kaylie Tressler, Jen Stahl, Staci Miller, Ag Education teacher and advisor along with Jackie Mosier to chaperone the trip.
Recently, four Paulding FFA members traveled to Washington D.C. for the Washington Leadership Conference (WLC). During the students’ time at WLC, the girls were separated and roomed with three other girls from all over the country. They were also put into Community Groups, groups with about 25 other FFA members at the conference, to focus on their “Living to Serve” plan. The students are challenged to come back to their community and put their “Living to Serve” plan into action. A plan in which each FFA member makes to help his or her community in their own way. Their plans could make a small impact or a vast impact in their community.
In addition to working on their “Living to Serve” plan, the girls were able to visit Arlington National Cemetery and watch the changing of the guards at the tomb of the unknown soldiers! They also got to visit the Capitol building and tour the Library of Congress. While at the Capitol, they even got to meet with Ohio Congressman Bob Latta! They got to tour multiple national monuments in the evening. When the girls had free time from their busy schedules, they went to the Smithsonian Zoo and The Holocaust museum. On their last day at the conference, they helped pack over 55,000 meals for Meal of Hope!
While at WLC, the girls were faced with many things experiences that they may not see in rural Paulding County. They got a first-hand experience of how many kids are hungry in the U.S through a hunger dinner. They did many activities that taught them how themselves and how they can make a difference in their community. The girls learned how to take action and make a difference! They learned that even if it does not happen in our community does not mean it does not happen at all. Although all four girls have different “Living to Serve” plans, they plan on making a huge different in our community!
The Paulding FFA and the four girls would like to thank all the donors and sponsors who helped make this life changing trip happen. This is the second time the chapter has sent members to WLC and it will not be the last!
