ALBANY — Three members of the Future Farmers of America chapter at Cattaraugus-Little Valley Central School attended the New York State FFA Student Leaders’ Experience in Albany Feb. 5 and 6 where they participated in an intensive conference.
Katie Mitrowski, FFA advisor and agricultural teacher, accompanied the students. She said the FFA members learned about the legislative process and how bills become laws, along with how to approach their local representative with their own concerns.
Students also learned how to effectively tell other people their own “FFA story” and how their stories relate to the potential impact and importance of implementing legislation that mandates agricultural education in every school in the state, Mitrowski explained.
On Feb. 6, students Breanna Unruh, Allie Erhart and Kierra Knobloch had the opportunity to meet with state Sen. George Borrello and Assemblyman Joseph Giglio to express their thanks for the support of agricultural education and ag ed funding in our state.
“Our FFA members also took time to inform our representatives about a legislative bill that would introduce agricultural education as an integral part of our New York state public school system, which would help to create a more educated workforce for our agricultural industries in the state of New York,” Mitrowski said. “The large group of New York state FFA leaders was also addressed by Gov. Kathy Hochul.”
Mitrowski said the State Leaders’ Experience was a wonderful opportunity for the Cattaraugus-Little Valley chapter leaders and something they look forward to participating in again in the future.
According to the state’s FFA website, the State Leaders’ Experience is intended for elite student leaders interested in learning more about advocacy and how they can still have an impact on agriculture, agricultural education and FFA.
The educational trip offers participating FFA members the opportunity to connect with legislators, agricultural leaders and top FFA members from across the state. To be selected for attendance, all participants must be nominated by their FFA advisor.
