FFA members attend SLLC

Members of the MAHS FFA recently attended the SLLC in Harrisburg.

Five members of the Meyersdale Area High School (MAHS) FFA Chapter attended the 2025 State FFA Legislative Leadership Conference (SLLC), held in Harrisburg, on March 23 through 25. Chapter President Bailey Knotts, Secretary Carrie Engle, Vice-President Jimmy Kretchman, Reporter Natalie Trowbridge and Treasurer Aidan Mosholder traveled with chapter advisor Doreen Jamison for three days of workshops, meetings and experiences with Pennsylvania legislative leaders and representatives of the agriculture sector.

Throughout the conference, MAHS members learned about the legislative process and current issues involving agriculture. The conference included workshops on leadership, parliamentary procedures and etiquette. The final event of the event was a legislative breakfast with senators and representatives, including State Senator Pat Stefano and State Representative Carl Walker Metzgar.

“I had a lot of fun, and learned a lot on the SLLC trip. I got the opportunity to meet our Senator Pat Stafano at breakfast. I learned how a bill goes through the legislative process, and how much work it takes to make a new bill,” Mosholder explained. “It was a very interesting and meaningful trip.”

The conference provided every attendee with an opportunity to learn more about the lengthy process and work that is involved in passing legislation.

“During our time at SLLC, we practiced leadership skills along with practicing debating bills as our government would,” Kretchman explained.

“Over the past few days we spent time learning the legislative process of passing a bill. We did group exercises that helped us meet and interact with members from other chapters around Pennsylvania,” Trowbridge added.

Jamison said the information and knowledge students acquire during the conference is invaluable for their futures in agriculture.

“The FFA members that went wanted to attend to learn more about the legislative process and see how it works within the FFA organization,” explained Jamison. “This conference helps the students understand the legislative process which they may use in the future with their jobs or organization involvements.”