C-R FFA Members Attend State Leadership Experience at New York State Capitol
Six members of the Cobleskill-Richmondville FFA chapter participated in the State Leadership Experience (SLE) at the New York State Capitol in Albany on February 2 and 3, joining more than 220 students from 60 schools across the state. For the C-R students in attendance, the event marked their first experience participating in this statewide leadership program.
The two-day experience focuses on preparing FFA members to advocate for agriculture by developing communication and leadership skills while learning how legislation related to agriculture is shaped at both local and state levels. Students participated in workshops and activities designed to strengthen professional skills and practiced communicating with legislators through simulated outreach exercises.
FFA member Andrew Hughes explained, “We learned how to identify issues impacting agriculture and understand how concerns can be brought to legislators at both local and state levels.” FFA Treasurer Jacob Enyart shared, “The event also provided opportunities to connect with peers from other schools while expanding professional development skills.”
Students also had the opportunity to hear from Assemblymen Chris Teague and Peter Oberacker, who spoke about the importance of agriculture in New York State and the future of the industry within the region.
Participation in events like SLE helps students gain valuable experience in leadership and advocacy while strengthening their understanding of the role agriculture plays in their communities and the state. We’re so very proud of our students who represented C-R with outstanding professionalism!