Each year, FFA members from all over the U.S. travel to Washington, D.C., to attend the Washington Leadership Conference (WLC). During the five-day event, attendees learn how to become effective leaders by learning their purpose, how to value people, how to take action, and how to serve others. FFA members leave WLC with the knowledge and the confidence to act in ways that help their schools, community, and their country.

West Central FFA advisor Becky Snyer with students Brooke Shepperd, Corey Crase and Shianne Hutton at the U.S. Capitol.

West Central FFA students Corey Crase, Brooke Shepperd, and Shianne Hutton meet with Sen. Joe Donnelly.

The West Central students joined other Indiana FFA students to visit with Sen. Joe Donnelly at the U.S. Capitol Thursday (June 26) where he gave them a private tour that Ms. Snyder reported even his interns said they have never had the chance to do.

"We even got to stand on the balcony where the inauguration takes place," she added. "He went above and beyond what we could have ever asked for (at one point the second floor was shut down for a ceremony, but he gave us the tour anyway. We walked through many closed off areas:

Forty-six Indiana FFA students made the trip from different state chapters.

The National FFA Organization (formerly known as Future Farmers of America) provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education. Today, there are 579,678 FFA members in grades seven through 12 who belong to one of 7,570 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.