• Article Photo. Iowa FFA members ask Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst questions.
    Iowa FFA members ask Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst questions.
  • Article Photo. Members Raine Wheeler (left) and Ciara Dods (right) snapping a photo on Capitol Hill.
    Members Raine Wheeler (left) and Ciara Dods (right) snapping a photo on Capitol Hill.
  • Article Photo. Raine and Ciara prepare for their first session of the conference.
    Raine and Ciara prepare for their first session of the conference.


By Co-Reporter, Raine Wheeler


      From June 15th to June 16th, two members from the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter created special memories in Washington, D.C. The FFA Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) is held at the Omni Shoreham Hotel every summer. Members are invited to attend and sit through workshops, tours, and discussions about serving their own communities. This year, members Ciara Dods and Raine Wheeler from the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter were honored with the opportunity to apply and participate in this conference. The two started their trip in Williamsburg where they boarded a charter bus with other Iowa chapters, starting their first night meeting new people, playing games, and honing in on their first session.

On their second day, attendees gained a new understanding of “servant leadership.” Afterwards, members were split into different “community groups” led by a single facilitator. Here, they learned about how to get started on their “Living to Serve” project once they got home. The day ended with a night tour of Washington, D.C. that began at the National Mall and ended with reflection time at the Iwo Jima monument.

Jackets were zipped and tallywackers were tucked on the third day. FFA members took the metro to Capitol Hill where Ciara and Raine joined with the other Iowa FFA members to talk to Representative Randy Feenstra’s lobbyist and his intern. This discussion helped them understand the importance of working together, especially in the agricultural sector of the government. This conversation was followed by a group photo with Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, who were also kind enough to answer any questions that the members had. Day three ended with multiple sessions and community group meetings where members got together to pinpoint needs in their community, then, they used this time to find out how they could fill that need.

      The last day was one for the books! After a wonderful breakfast, members came together to pack meals for the “Meals of Hope” organization. This was an inspiring experience that taught them about teamwork and cooperation. The rest of the last day was spent at Arlington Memorial, where Ciara and Raine got to watch the Changing of the Guard. They then had free time to walk around downtown Washington, D.C. The last session was a reflection on what was learned at the conference, it wasn’t just the lessons that were taught, but the people they met and the memories they shared.

Overall, Ciara and Raine had a blast attending the conference. When asked, Ciara had her own special conclusion on the event, “WLC was an amazing opportunity for me to grow my servant leadership. I am extremely grateful to those in the community who made it possible for me to go.”

     That being said, the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Chapter would like to thank all of the supporters who had made this trip possible. Your support helped give these two members memories of a lifetime, and the contribution will not be going unnoticed.