Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) was canceled in 2020 and 2021. The return of WLC in 2022 marks the 51st year of the program, which has impacted thousands of FFA members over the years.
“There’s a hunger for in-person leadership development experiences,” says Christine White, chief program officer of the Programs and Events Division for FFA. “WLC is an opportunity for members to put leadership back into action, in person. It’s a chance for young people across the country to network with fellow members, learn power skills in leadership and understand how to better serve their communities.”
White is a WLC alumna. The legacy of the program speaks for itself.
“I feel it’s a program that binds people together,” she says. “Former participants are a bit jealous of the current participants. It’s an experience they’ll remember for a lifetime.”
The pandemic hiatus allowed WLC directors to refresh the curriculum. This year’s attendees will leave inspired to make changes in their communities. They’ll have the chance to create a Living to Serve plan specific to their local needs and complete an onsite service project — a meal-packing event to serve the hungry in Washington, D.C.
Attendees will visit the Smithsonian National Museum and connect with legislators to advocate for agriculture.
“Members who have never been to Washington, D.C., will experience the culture of the community through museums and sites unique to our nation’s capital, which will enhance the curriculum,” White says.
Even with the new and improved curriculum, the core tenets of the conference remain the same: explore, encourage, advocate and serve. White says the diverse perspectives of today’s FFA members make the experience that much richer.
“Each attendee brings a different lived experience to the conference to share with their peers,” she says. “WLC looks different every week throughout the summer and year to year because of these unique experiences.”
General registration for WLC begins at 6 p.m. EST on Tuesday, March 8. Seven weeklong sessions are offered throughout the summer. White encourages applicants to consider fundraising to attend.
