38th Annual Legislative Symposium and FFA Day at the Capitol

The FFA organization sees how legislation regarding agriculture affects people firsthand.

Contributed by Atlantic FFA

FFA members in the House of Representatives. From left to right: DJ Shepperd, Claire Pellett, Daniel Fruend, Representative Tom Moore, Colton Rudy, Jackson McLaren, Charli Goff, Callee Pellett. Seated: Dylan Comes.

Contributed by Charli Goff*
February 13, 2023

FFA members from across Iowa converged at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines to build character and promote citizenship, volunteerism, and patriotism. Nearly 700 high school students wearing blue corduroy from 102 schools visited the Iowa State Capitol Building in Des Moines on January 31. The students visited with legislators, exhibited skills learned in the agriculture classroom, and learned the importance of citizenship. This was all part of the 38th Annual Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium and FFA Day at the Capitol. 

In the morning, Atlantic FFA members Dylan Comes, Daniel Freund, Claire Pellett, Jackson McLaren, Charli Goff, DJ Shepperd, and Colton Rudy gathered at the Downtown Embassy Suites and heard from Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, about the importance of agriculture in Iowa and abroad. Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President, Brent Johnson, then delivered a message about the importance young agriculturalists can play in the agriculture industry. Elizabeth Burns-Thompson from Navigator CO2 then spoke about the importance of advocating for the agricultural industry. Brenna Bird, Attorney General of Iowa, then delivered a message about the role of the attorney general and her experience with agriculture. 

FFA members in the Senate. Front row from left to right: Colton Rudy, Claire Pellett, Charli Goff, Callee Pellett. Back row from left to right: Daniel Freund, DJ Shepperd, Dylan Comes, Senator Tom Shipley, Jackson McLaren. (Contributed by Atlantic FFA)

The morning program culminated with FFA members hearing a brief message from Governor Kim Reynolds, who then presented and signed the FFA Week Proclamation. The proclamation officially declares February 18 through 25, the week of President George Washington’s Birthday, FFA Week in Iowa. 

After the presentation, FFA members traveled to the Iowa Capital to meet with legislators. Senator Tom Shipley and members of the Atlantic FFA chapter spoke about his typical day and then each member had questions to ask about policy that affects students. Next, Atlantic FFA members met with Representative Tom Moore and spoke to him for about 20 minutes. Moore also showed the members the Iowa House chambers and his desk.  The 38th Annual Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium and FFA Day at the Capitol was made possible with support from Iowa Farm Bureau Federation through the Iowa FFA Foundation.

 

*The original report was edited for clarity.