Valley FFA members advocate for agricultural education

From left are FFA State Officer Mara Soto, Aaron Wilson, Ella Petit. Sen. Dean Takko (D-Longview), Alyssa Brock, and Aubree Triplett.

MENLO - Four of the Willapa Valley FFA Chapter Officers had the opportunity to visit the Washington State Capitol building in Olympia January 21.

The four students talked to Sen. Dean Takko (D-Longview) and Rep. Brian Blake (D-Longview). The subject they discussed with the legislators dealt with how each year Washington state gives each Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO) approximately $12,400 each.

The Washington State FFA Association has been receiving the same amount of money they were getting around five years ago despite the fact that there has been a 40 percent increase in student membership. The Washington State FFA Association now has roughly 12,000 members, leaving about $1 for each member in the state. The members that attended the state Capitol on Tuesday were sharing their personal FFA stories and urging Sen. Takko and Rep. Blake to increase the amount of money that Washington FFA receives each year, for a chance to enhance student experiences and opportunities state-wide.