Happy Friday Ag Teachers,

Again this year, Georgia FFA is taking a bus trip to Washington D.C. for the Washington Leadership Conference. WLC is the premier leadership event offered by the National FFA Organization. It is a week of outstanding leadership training and touring our nation’s capital. Students work with other FFA members from across the nation and are led by a conference staff made of former state and national FFA officers. It is an incredible experience, and I hope you’ll encourage leaders in your chapter to attend.

The dates for the WLC bus trip are June 18-24, 2018. The student conference fee is $1,125 and the advisor fee is $1,214. This fee covers most meals, lodging, conference material, and bus transportation. A registration form is attached. All WLC registration material is due to the State FFA Office by April 5. A $450 deposit is due with the registration form. The remaining balance for WLC is due to the State FFA Office by May 10. Please make all checks payable to the Georgia FFA Association. Do not use the Ag Career Network to register. Please send all registration information to the State FFA Office.

Thanks to the Georgia FFA Foundation and its generous sponsors, several scholarships are available. The scholarship application is attached and can also be downloaded from the Georgia FFA website. The scholarship application process is competitive. Priority is given to 10^th and 11^th grade FFA members. Students who have previously attended WLC are not eligible to receive scholarships. Scholarship applications are due to your region office on March 1, 2018. Please have students submit a copy of the WLC Registration Form along with their scholarship application. Submitting the registration form along with the scholarship application will not register your student for WLC. However, it will ensure that we have registration information for scholarship recipients prior to the April 1 deadline.

In addition to scholarships, students can help raise money for the trip by conducting fundraisers or working with sponsors, such as their local FFA Alumni, local businesses, and other FFA supporters. A list of fundraising ideas is on the Conferences page of the Georgia FFA website.

Each year, participation in the WLC bus trip has grown. With only 45 student spots available,  I encourage you to send your registration information in early to secure your member’s spot. Advisors can attend WLC as well! The conference is a great opportunity to tour our nation’s capital and network with other teachers from Georgia and around the country. Advisors can also earn PLU credit for attending. 

Please encourage your members to attend this life-changing week of the Washington Leadership Conference. It will be a decision they never regret.  If you or your students are interested in more information or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at (706) 552-4457.

Have a great weekend,

Makinizi Hoover

Interim Leadership Program Specialist

Georgia FFA Association

(706) 552-4457

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