On December 1st, Sophie, Prescott, and I all were in Washington DC addressing the USDA on school lunches and student voice. Over the summer at the 2016 Summit, we all participated in a contest called Power of Persuasion; addressing why school lunch and student voice matters. Being the top five, and then the top three, we were invited to address the USDA in Washington DC.
We all arrived on Wednesday, November 30th, and the next day met up for the 11am bus that would take us to the Agriculture Building. We walk in and were immediately so excited and amazed; was this really happening?! After settling, we got upstairs and ate in We the People Buffet; talked to Audrey Rowe (Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA) and other USDA representatives! Then we all went downstairs and started the meeting. Audrey started off by introducing the agenda, then Jean Ragalie-Carr (President, National Dairy Council) introduced us and FUTP 60. After we presented our Power of Persuasion speeches, we had a Q & A session with the USDA representatives; even getting advice from them.
After the amazing three hours with the USDA we went and watched Tom Vilsack (United States Secretary of Agriculture) talk. Then we got to watch his portrait unveiling, and talk to him face to face; shaking his hand and getting his input on agriculture.
This was such a great opportunity, and fun experience for the three of us! I know I had a blast touring, learning, being praised, and just the overall experience! Thank you to the judges and FUTP 60 for giving me the opportunity attend the meeting and present my speech!
Sydney
Summit Ambassador
New Hampshire
9th Grade
When I first found out that I would be going to DC after being in the top three at the Power of Persuasion competition at the 2016 Student Ambassador Summit, I definitely wasn’t expecting how fun and amazing the experience would be! I got into DC the day before we were going to the USDA to do all of the things tourists would usually do when you are in DC, such as the Capital building and the Smithsonian American History Museum. Overall, my mom and I together spent about 14 hours sightseeing before the USDA the next day!
The first thing that we did as soon as we woke up on the day of the meeting was go to breakfast so that we wouldn’t be hungry while there. Then, we met up with Sydney, another Student Ambassador from New Hampshire, and Sophie, a State Ambassador from Kansas, as well as their moms. Then Charles from the FUTP 60 National team met with all of us to give us a little more detail on what to expect, and to have all of us get to know each other a little more, as we knew each other from the Summit but haven’t seen each other since.
Then, after driving through DC traffic we made it to the USDA building, where GENYOUth Senior VP Karen Kafer greeted us. After we stepped into the building, a couple of people that we saw at the Summit came in, and it wasn’t other students. It was Jean Ragalie-Carr, President of the National Dairy Council, and FUTP 60 VP Dottie Ryan, as well Audrey Rowe, Administrator of Food and Nutrition Service at the USDA. Once everyone was there, we went upstairs to the We the People dining room, where we had a nutritious and delicious lunch. I myself had a long discussion with Jean and Audrey, talking about the direction FUTP 60 should take in the future.
Afterward, we went down to the press room gave our speeches and answered the USDA staff’s questions. It really went quick, and the conversations were really good! Afterwards, we attended the Secretary of Agriculture’s portrait unveiling. It was really cool, as the Secretary was one of the people who has been a supporter of FUTP 60 since Day 1, and has been a champion for healthy school meals. After the unveiling, we went down to get a closer look. Secretary Vilsack saw us, and invited us to take a closer look of it on the stage! All of us then had a quick conversation with him before we took off for the airport. Overall, the trip was an amazing experience, and if you ever get the chance participate in a contest like the Power of Persuasion, I’d hands down tell you to go and do it.
Prescott
Summit Ambassador
New Hampshire
8th Grade
My recent Fuel Up to Play 60 trip to Washington DC was everything I hoped it would be and more. From the National monuments, to the Smithsonian exhibits, this city had it all. Around every corner was a little bit of history worth getting the camera out for. Here I am in front of the Washington Memorial! You could see it everywhere in town and it caught my eye every time!
While I was in Washington, I also got the opportunity to speak to members of the USDA. This was incredible! I met such awesome, inspiring people and I will never forget it! Speaking to the USDA was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I still can’t believe it happened! Here I am in the press room of the building having a podium moment.
Washington DC was such a blast and I am so thankful that they picked me to represent Fuel Up to Play 60.
Sophie
State Ambassador
Kansas
7th Grade
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