INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, April 8, 2020/National FFA Organization) – For the first time in 50 years, the National FFA Organization’s Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) won’t occur this summer.

The organization made the decision this week due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

“We have an obligation to protect the safety and health of our FFA members at our events,” said Christine White, National FFA chief program officer. “In addition to the health and safety of our members, there were other logistical issues as well — such as extended stay-at-home orders, large group restrictions and venue closures in the Washington, D.C., area that led to this decision.”

All who registered for WLC will receive full refunds — including deposits. Those participants who canceled earlier, due to concerns of COVID-19, will also receive a refund on their deposits.

The curriculum of WLC is based on four tenets: Me, We, Do and Serve. Building upon each of these four tenets leads the students to the overall objective of the conference, which is becoming an engaged citizen who can make a measurable positive difference in their community.

“Washington, D.C., was utilized as a living classroom for this conference where museums and important sites were embedded in the curriculum. While we can’t replicate the WLC experience virtually, we are developing other ways to engage students virtually during the summer months,” White said. “We know our members are tomorrow’s future leaders and want to provide them with resources to help them through this uncertain time.”

The organization plans for the Washington Leadership Conference to return in the summer of 2021.

The National FFA Organization provides leadership, personal growth and career success training through agricultural education to more than 700,000 student members who belong to one of the more than 8,600 local FFA chapters throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The organization is also supported by more than 8 million alumni and supporters throughout the U.S.

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About National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is a national youth organization of more than 700,000 student members as part of 8,600 local FFA chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education. For more, visit the National FFA Organization online at FFA.org and on Facebook, Twitter, and the official news page of the National FFA Organization.

About National FFA Foundation
The National FFA Foundation builds partnerships with industry, education, government, other foundations, and individuals to secure financial resources that recognize FFA member achievements, develop student leaders, and support the future of agricultural education. Governed by a 19-member board of trustees composed of educators, business leaders, individual donors and FFA Alumni, the foundation is a separately registered nonprofit organization. About 82 percent of every dollar received by the foundation supports FFA members and agricultural education opportunities. For more, visit FFA.org/Give.