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MC HS FFA Students Learn Leadership Skills through Service in D.C.
Above are Trisha Lastly, Bryse Towns, Olivia Minish, Jade Andrews, GarrettWhitworth & Austin Saye in front of our Nation's Capitol.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Garrett Whitworth, Olivia Minish, Bryse Towns, Jade Andrews and Austin Saye of the Madison County FFA Chapter recently attended the 2011 Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) for a week during the month of June our nation’s capitol. The conference is an activity of the National FFA Organization in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Education and Agriculture. Located in our nation’s capitol, the Washington Leadership Conference is a fiveday event that trains FFA members to make a positive impact in their school, local community, state and country. The conference focuses on the following areas: - Problem Solving - Relationship Building - Living with Character Developing an Attitude for serving Others. The cap-
stone event of the Washington Leadership Conference is a civic engagement activity, which takes leadership and service learning to new standards. Partnered with Mid Atlantic Gleaning Network, participants glean food for Washing ton area food banks and shelters. In the past two years, WLC participants have dedicated over 23,000 hours of service to the Washington, D.C. area. MCHS Agriculture teacher whom attended the conference with the students, Trisha Lastly, stated, ―Each student from the Madison County FFA Chapter was involved in a different community service activity which ranged from cleaning a women’s clinic to planting flowers at a civic center in down town D.C. The student learn so much from their experience in D.C., every
member should attend before leaving high school!‖The National FFA Organization coordinates WLC, which attracts participants from across the country. This summer more than 2,300 FFA members will attend one of the seven weeklong sessions. Students also increase their understanding of the nation’s heritage with visits to Mount Vernon, Arlington National Cemetery, the Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt Memorials, and other historic sights in Washington, D.C. When asked what part of the conference was the best Garrett Whitworth said, ―I really enjoyed the poverty dinner. It taught me that not everyone has basic needs like food and that we as FFA members should help others through service.‖
COLT Conference - Officers Prepare for the 11 - 12 Year “[Our Chapter] isn’t going to do the same things as we have always done. This year is the year of change!” - Garrett Whitworth, MCHS Vice President
Back Row – Gabrielle Gantley – Freshman Vice President, Olivia Minish – Senior Reporter, Zack Tankersley – Student Advisor, Garrett Whitworth – Senior Vice President, Josh Huff – Freshman Treasurer, Jordan Collins – Chaplin, Bailey Seabolt – Freshman Reporter. Front Row – Makayla Kellum – Freshman Secretary, Shelby Smith – Senior Secretary, Levi Simmons – Freshman Sentinel, Kevin Jones – Senior President, Travis Tankerlsey – Freshman President and Megan Boswell – Senior Treasurer.
The officers of the Madison County High School FFA Chapter were part of more than 200 chapter officers representing twentyone FFA chapters from across Georgia that attended the 2011 Chapter Officer Leadership Training. The COLT Conference was held July 19-21, at the Georgia FFA/ FCCLA Center near Covington, GA. This year’s COLT theme was ―X-treme Impact.‖ Each officer team attended workshops that focused on building teamwork and communication, displaying professionalism, and planning their chapter’s Program of Activities for the coming year. Students also learned about creativity and innovation, conducting successful chapter meetings, and their specific officer responsibilities. The officers were encouraged to set goals and gained a variety of ideas for recruitment, public relations, and
fundraising. The Madison County High School officers were encouraged to make an impact by living as a role model, motivating others to serve, promoting the FFA organization in a classy way and leaving a legacy. ―COLT conference is an excellent way for chapter officers to kick-off their year of service,‖ says State FFA President, Ben Bennett. ―We challenge these officers to work together and empower the other members of their chapter.‖ The officers from the Madison County High School FFA Chapter
who attended the COLT conference were: Back Row – Gabrielle Gantley – Freshman Vice President, Olivia Minish – Senior Reporter, Zack Tankersley – Student Advisor, Garrett Whitworth – Senior Vice President, Josh Huff – Freshman Treasurer, Jordan Collins – Chaplin, Bailey Seabolt – Freshman Reporter. Front Row – Makayla Kellum – Freshman Secretary, Shelby Smith – Senior Secretary, Levi Simmons – Freshman Sentinel, Kevin Jones – Senior President, Travis Tankerlsey – Freshman President and Megan Boswell – Senior Treasurer.