South Haven News

By Michelle Tevington

It’s a great day when one of our South Haven FFA members gets to attend the Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) in Washington D.C. It’s an amazing day when two South Haven FFA members get to attend WLC. Avery Strickland and Michelle Tevington took on the task of representing South Haven FFA. 

Both applied for the FFA Alumni and Supporters WLC scholarship in November of 2023.

After months of waiting, Strickland and Tevington got the news that they had received the scholarship. On June 11, 2024, they met a group of 60 other Kansas FFA kids. This would be the first plane ride for both Stickland and Tevington.

During their stay, they met kids from all over the nation. About 250 FFA members gathered in the Omni hotel to kick off the start of the next 5 days. After the opening session, all FFA members were broken down into their community groups. 

Strickland was a member of the National Stock Yard. Strickland saw the Washington Monument, the White House, the Smithsonian museums, the Capital Building, and “so much stuff that I can’t name it all.” Strickland can’t wait to show all the leadership and communication skills she developed to better her community.  

Tevington was a member of the Washington Nationals. Meeting so many friends from all over was the cherry on top for her trip. “The bonds built over the five days will never be replaced” says Tevington. One day Tevington hopes to go back and be a leader at WLC in order to help other FFA members like herself find their place in this organization.

On the final night of WLC there were lots of tears and hugs with friends made. A very late lights out for these two South Haven FFA members would be their last moments with their community groups, or so they thought. At 11:45 P.M., the fire alarm went off. Tevington said “The chaos of trying to find your community group to do role call was like fighting through a Black Friday line.” After everyone was accounted for and the alarms were shut off everyone went back to their rooms. At 2:00 A.M., Strickland, Tevington, and the other Kansas FFA member headed for the airport. Landing in Kansas city at 8 A.M. marked the end of the trip for Strickland and Tevington.