Attending the National FFA Washington Leadership Conference wasn’t just another trip; it was a wake-up call. For a week, I was surrounded by hundreds of FFA members from across the country who all had one thing in common: a fire to make their communities better. Every session, activity, and late-night conversation made me think bigger and dig deeper into what leadership and service truly mean. WLC taught me that real change doesn’t come from grand speeches or big titles, it comes from rolling up your sleeves and doing the work. I left D.C. with a sharper vision, more tools in my belt, and a plan that I couldn’t wait to bring home.
That plan is my Living to Serve project, From Eggs to Education. The idea is simple but powerful: bring urban chicken coops into neighborhoods where agricultural and food literacy is low and obesity rates are high. These coops would be more than just egg producers; they’d be community hubs. Imagine kids collecting eggs for the first time, families learning how to prepare fresh, healthy meals, and neighbors gaining hands-on agricultural experience without leaving their city. It’s about turning a carton of eggs into a lesson, a conversation, and a step toward healthier, stronger communities. WLC gave me the confidence to take this from a “what if” to a “let’s do it.”
To my fellow chapter members who will get the chance to attend in the future, go. Go with open ears, open eyes, and an open heart. Soak in every lesson, meet as many people as you can, and don’t be afraid to dream wildly. Your “big idea” might be the thing that changes someone’s life. WLC isn’t just a trip to D.C, it’s a launchpad. When you come home, bring that energy back, and turn it into action. Because the world doesn’t just need leaders, it needs leaders who live to serve. -Garrett Hall
