A handful of Hillsboro FFA Chapter members recently attended the Ohio Legislative Leadership Conference.
It took place on September 25th in at the Ohio Statehouse where the morning workshop focused on advocating for agricultural education, informing students about important issues and preparing them to speak with legislators.
The students learned about lobbying and how they can lobby in their own communities and beyond. Students also participated in an activity in which they pretended to be lobbyists attempting to convince a legislator to back up their bill. It showed them that in order to convince certain people to support you, you have to have the information and ideas that go along with the legislator’s because everyone is different.
The five members who attended the conference, pictured below from left to right, were Katie Craig, Alora Brown, Laraleigh Mayhan, Joe Helterbrand and Ben Florea. They're joined by Republican State Representative Shane Wilken of the 91st District on their far right.
After the morning workshop, these five had the opportunity to explore the Statehouse and speak with Representative Shane Wilkin, who took the students onto the floor where bills are passed and took a picture with the students where the House Speaker stands. That was followed by lunch with some of the state’s legislators.
During the lunch, Ohio’s Director of Agriculture, Dorothy Pelanda, provided a positive message, saying the FFA members in attendance are the future of agriculture and legislation in the State of Ohio. After lunch, the members of the Hillsboro FFA spoke with Representative Bob Peterson in his office.
President of the Hillsboro FFA Chapter, Joe Helterbrand, said of his time at the conference, “I learned a lot and had fun as I got to meet our representatives and explore the Statehouse.”