News : Legislative Symposium

The Vinton-Shellsburg FFA Officer team pictured with Senator Dawn Driscoll at the Capitol

By: Isabel Mullinex, Co-Reporter

On Tuesday, February 1st, the Vinton-Shellsburg FFA chapter officer team attended the annual FFA Legislative Symposium at the capitol building in Des Moines. This is an event that about 5% of Iowa's FFA members historically attend.

The team started the day with a meeting with Iowa FFA State Officers to set expectations for the day. Then, they heard from guest speakers Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Brent Johnson, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President, and Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, Navigator CO2.

FFA members then met with their House and Senate representatives. They listened and asked them questions about their jobs and what current bills they were working on for education and agriculture. The leaders shared how FFA can be a guide and a big part of future careers through experiences of their own, back in their high school days.

The Legislative Symposium was a great learning and inspirational opportunity for all FFA members and the officer team enjoyed their time in the capitol building. Following the official business of the day, the officer team returned to the high school with filled bellies from a fun stop at Zombie Burger.

Caption for group photo on the stairway:

The FFA Officer Team. Back Row, Left-right: Sentinel: Paul Herger, President: Anabelle Newton, Secretary: Clayton McKenna, Co-Reporter: Grace Shminke.

Front row, Left-right: Treasurer: Bailey Weeks, Co-Reporter: Isabel Mullinex, Vice President: Josh Wiley, and Officer at Large: Rachel Rollinger.