WASHINGTON (Friday, June 17, 2011/National FFA Organization) – FFA members from across the nation are attending the 2011 Washington Leadership Conference in the nation’s capital. The conference is an activity of the National FFA Organization and sponsored by Monsanto as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.
The week-long program helps FFA members improve their leadership skills and prepare for leadership roles in their chapters, communities and their future careers. Students attend sessions on developing authentic leadership, serving their communities and service learning. The conference ends with all participants giving back to the community through one of 11 service projects, sponsored by Timberland.
WLC attracts participants from across the country with more than 2,000 FFA members attending one of seven week-long sessions that started June 7. Students also increase their understanding of the nation’s heritage with visits to Arlington National Cemetery; the Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt memorials; and other historic sites. A highlight of the week for many students is a visit to the office of their local U.S. representative or senator.
“We live in an increasingly competitive world,” said Dr. Steve Brown, interim National FFA Organization advisor and coordinator of Agricultural and Rural Education at the U.S. Department of Education. “Tomorrow’s leaders must develop skills in these areas to effectively compete. Every student leaves the Washington Leadership Conference with an advantage because it gives those young people cutting-edge leadership skills and valuable insight for productive citizenship.”
Event title sponsor Monsanto is dedicated to the future success of agriculture by investing more than $1 million to the National FFA Foundation in 2011 as part of a broad commitment to support agricultural youth.
“Monsanto and FFA are committed to helping youth develop their communication and leadership skills that will serve them throughout life,” said John Raines, vice president of customer advocacy at Monsanto. “We know our business will only be as strong as the next generation and FFA students attending WLC earn valuable leadership skills that will benefit them and their future employers over a lifetime”.
WLC is also supported during by four additional sponsors: CSX, sponsor of weeks one through four from June 7 to July 3; CPS, sponsor of week two June 14-18; and TransCanada, sponsor of weeks five though seven from July 12-31.
The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations and individuals to secure financial resources that fund FFA activities, recognize member achievements, develop student leaders and support the future of agriculture education. Nearly 82 percent of all funds received by the foundation support FFA and agricultural education opportunities.
Formerly known as Future Farmers of America, the National FFA Organization provides agricultural education to more than 523,000 student members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,487 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The organization operates under a federal charter granted by the 81st U.S. Congress and it is an integral part of public instruction in agriculture. For more, visit http://www.ffa.org.