New friends + Washington D.C. = Perfection!

New friends + Washington D.C. = Perfection!



I love Fredonia FFA Chapter!!! I had the most awesome week in Washington D.C. with 10 members from the Fredonia FFA Chapter in Kansas. Amberlyn, Hannah, Ester, Justin, Luke, Amy, Melissa, Andrew, Bradley and Tyler all rock.









They won a free trip to D.C. for their efforts with the National Animal Identification System. They won their state Agricultural Communications Career Development Event and when they started preparing for Nationals they decided to pick the NAIS program. After the national contest they wanted their hard work to continue. So, they heard of the NAIS Chapter Enrichment program and worked to promote NAIS in their community. Their hard work paid off and they won the trip.






We all arrived on Wednesday where I got to know them, and we had a welcome followed by a dinner in D.C. Thursday morning was spent at the United States Department of Agriculture where they were recognized for their work on the NAIS program. Friday they were able to meet with the acting Under Secretary of Animal Plant Health Inspection Service. Saturday was a free day where we toured D.C. and Sunday was spent touring as well before we headed to the airport. We were able to meet some really incredible people involved in agriculture there in D.C. Some of the highlights were also meeting with Senator Sam Brownback and Senator Pat Roberts both from Kansas. Senator Brownback’s office was able to arrange a tour of the Capitol which was my first time and it was awesome!





Washington D.C. is an incredible city! However, the best part was hanging out with everyone from Fredonia. They are awesome people and I am so glad that I have new friends from Kansas. I have already missed them since the D.C. trip!

This is a picture of Hannah at Senator Roberts desk!!!! She was hilarious and so much fun! She had a Starbucks everymorning...she was blissfully happy. : )

It was a fantastic week. Afterall, New friends + Washington D.C. = Perfection!

-Laila