2025 Sacramento Leadership Experience attendees.
The Sacramento Leadership Experience (SLE) is an annual event that selects the top 75 graduating seniors enrolled in FFA to step into California state legislator roles. Participants learn significant material, such as debating mock bills, voting, policy and the depth of the three branches of government. Everyone is given a specific district to represent, and they spend four days learning about its functioning before taking a stand when conducting mock legislation.
“You spend a day or two learning about all the specifics of California government and about the bills you’re going to be debating,” says Wyatt Thompson, a past SLE participant. “Going into your third and fourth days, you’re debating those topics and processing bills you were given, just like you would if you were actually in the California legislature.”
Meaningful Connections
Through his experience, Thompson met lots of incredible people and got to see meaningful places that helped shape his perspective. “I got to meet Heather Hadwick and Megan Dahle, who both represent our area in Grass Valley,” he says.
Inside the state capital in Sacramento, Calif.
Thompson also talked to many district senators and assembly members from his area. His favorite moment from SLE is his first night of reflection. “We went to the Vietnam War Memorial,” he says. “It was really impactful to see all of the different names up on those walls, all the towns they came from within California and how many people gave their lives for our country.”
Thompson’s Recommendation
Thompson describes his experience as “lots of fun, learning and downtime with other high-tiered leadership students in the state of California.” He was also pleased with how easily the conference flowed, adding, “There wasn’t a moment where you didn’t know what you were doing or that the people running it didn’t have an answer for any questions you had.”
Thompson gets a drink with friends.
Overall, he says SLE was “a very good experience and something you can learn a lot from.”
