B Y: A N G E L I C A A L DA N A T E X A S F FA A S S O C I AT I O N L E A D E R S H I P D E V E L O P M E N T C O O R D I N AT O R
STANDING FOR A CAUSE IN THE BLUE JACKET
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s we enter through the historic walls of pink granite on a late February morning, we can usually find a sea of hundreds of blue jackets. This week in late February celebrates one of our founding fathers’ birthdays, President George Washington. It is also the very week that brings together current FFA members, alumni, advisors and supporters to reflect, advocate, and share about the impact that this blue jacket makes on each person that wears it. In our great state of Texas, National FFA Week is the host of the annual Day at the Capitol experience where FFA members across the state of Texas learn about the legislative process and play a vital role in advocating for Agricultural Education, Career Technical Education (CTE), and current legislation that will impact our classrooms. Although COVID-19 changed how we execute this learning experience in 2021, the Texas FFA State Officers made it a priority to have conversations with legislators and staffers at the Capitol and remained steadfast in the reason why we host Day at the Capitol. With the diligent help of Senator Bryan Hughes, and his dedicated staffers and schedulers, the state officer team engaged in a series of meaningful experiences that left elected officials with positive memories of 3
FFA members. Their week at the Capitol began on February 23rd in the Senate Chamber where Senator Hughes introduced a Senate Resolution to recognize the Texas FFA Association during National FFA Week. This moment was significant, as our state officers were the first group allowed in the Senate Chambers to watch a Senate Session since protocols were in place due to COVID-19. Each Senator with a state officer from their district read the state officer’s biography and shared some words in support of agricultural education and FFA. The Senate Resolution unanimously passed on the floor. After much excitement, the state officer team went straight to work for the next
“THE TEXAS FFA STATE OFFICERS MADE IT A PRIORITY TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH LEGISLATORS AND STAFFERS AT THE CAPITOL AND REMAINED STEADFAST IN THE REASON WHY WE HOST DAY AT THE CAPITOL ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE FFA.”
