News : V-S FFA Members Sharpen Leadership Skills at Washington Leadership Conference

Vinton-Shellsburg FFA with Christie Vilsack in the Library of Congress.

FFA Members Sam Lundvall, Alana Fleming, Rachel Rollinger, Grayce McClintock, Andrew Pingenot, Megan Schlitter, and Izzie Birker in front of the Washington Monument.

Annabelle Newton, Will McKenna and Cooper McClintock surprised the rest of the FFA members at the airport when they returned.

Alana Fleming, Andrew Pingenot, Gracye McClintock, Megan Schlitter, Izzie Birker, and Rachel Rollinger standing next to the Iowa engraving in the WW2 memorial.

By: Co-Reporter, Izzie Birker

 "It was really fun, I made a lot of memories that I hope to look back on some day. I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to go to take it, because they won't regret it". This was said by Senior FFA member Rachel Rollinger. Rachel was one of the seven fearless FFA members that set off to Washington DC for WLC, held by the National FFA.

Incoming Juniors Izzie Birker, Alana Fleming, Megan Schlitter, Andrew Pingenot, and incoming Seniors Grayce McClintock, Samantha Lundvall, and Rachel Rollinger all attended Washington Leadership Conference July 18th-23rd. During those days they got amazing opportunities like being able to see all of the national sites, learning how to be a good leader, and had the opportunity to talk with Iowa Representative Ashley Henson and Christie Vilsack, the wife of the US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack.

These students also learned about how to advocate for themselves and for their chapters back at home. The skills they learned will help them in being better leaders and set goals for starting their own service projects called LTS plans (Living to Serve). They will be using these projects to help better their community in many different ways throughout the coming year. At the end of the week each of these FFA members had all learned something different and were greeted by the remaining chapter officers and Northeast State Vice President, Annabelle Newton, at the airport!