Click the link below for the article from the National Rural Education Association, as well as the first hand account below from McArthur FFA Secretary, Lauren Giessner.
https://nrea.net/ffa-students-in-washington-dc/
"McArthur FFA members and alumni, Lauren Giessner, Alexa Iniguez, Ellie Norris, and Paul Horta, with their FFA Advisor and Agriculture Teacher, Mr. Rick Neugebauer, traveled to Washington, DC to advocate for the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) Funding Act, which supports rural education and Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs such as FFA.
Throughout the trip, the group met with congressional leaders and staff in the House of Representatives, including Chief of Staff for Congressman Jared Huffman, staff for
Congressman Doug LaMalfa, and team members from the offices of Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Congressman Ken Calvert, Congressmen Kevin Kiley and Vince Fong, and Congressman Joe Neguse. They also had the honor of meeting U.S. Senator Alex Padilla and taking a photo with him on the steps of the U.S. Capitol a powerful moment that reflected the importance of student advocacy and civic engagement.
While in Washington, the group toured the House of Representatives office buildings, Cannon, Longworth, and Rayburn, as they made their way between meetings. They also observed a live Senate Agriculture Committee hearing in the Russell Senate Office Building, where senators discussed key forestry and agricultural legislation.
Outside of their meetings, the group visited several of Washington, DC’s most historic landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. This trip left a lasting impression on each participant, reinforcing their pride in representing rural schools, agriculture, and FFA on a national stage. The McArthur FFA Chapter is honored to continue advocating for the Secure Rural Schools Funding Act and the essential opportunities it provides for students across the country."
