DES MOINES - Three Algona FFA officers traveled to Des Moines for the 2023 Iowa FFA Legislative Symposium on January 31st. During the morning, FFA members gathered at the Downtown Embassy Suites and heard from Mike Naig, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, about the importance of agriculture in Iowa and abroad. Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President, Brent Johnson, then delivered a message about the importance young agriculturalists can play in the agriculture industry. Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, from Navigator CO2, then spoke about the importance of advocating for the agricultural industry. Brenna Bird, Attorney General of Iowa, then delivered a message about the role of attorney general and her experience with agriculture.
The morning program culminated with FFA members hearing a brief message from Governor Kim Reynolds, who then presented and signed the FFA Week Proclamation. The proclamation officially declares February 18-25, the week of President George Washington’s birthday, as FFA Week in Iowa.
The FFA members then traveled to the Capitol and had a chance to talk with local representatives. The Algona FFA officers met with Iowa Representative John Wills, Iowa Representative Henry Stone, and Iowa Senator Dave Rowley. This allowed the FFA members to advocate for issues important to them as well as demonstrate their communication and leadership skills that have been developed and honed in the FFA.