Arcata FFA members returned from the National Convention in Indianapolis and Washington D.C. All fifteen members survived the early wake-up calls and the miles of daily walking. They flew into Indianapolis on October 31st and got to the hotel at midnight. While in Indianapolis, they got to tour the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Members rode in a bus around the track and kissed the famous bricks that race winners kiss. They got to attend the Cinch Rodeo and watch some bronc and bull riding. Along with sharing a box suite at a Pacers vs. Cavaliers NBA game with Eureka FFA. In between these activities, they got to explore the FFA mall, the college and career expo, downtown Indy, and attend convention sessions.
“My favorite part of Indy was definitely getting to explore on Lime scooters and try all sorts of new foods!” senior Jocelyn Hague said.
During one of the sessions, they got to watch recently graduated Arcata FFA member, Ella Waterhouse, receive her American Degree. This is a huge accomplishment because less than one percent of FFA members earn this degree. After the ceremony, on November 4th, they packed up and headed to the airport for their flight to D.C.
Once in D.C., they quickly dropped their bags off at the hotel and headed to a Capitals vs. Blue Jackets hockey game. They instantly became fans when they were handed Capitals hats as they entered the stadium.
“After a while, it was pretty easy to turn to someone you’ve never met before and give them a high five when the team scores, especially at the Washington Capitals game. It was an awesome experience to just feel close to people you’ve never met before and be brought together by a sport,” junior Jordan Pelran said.
Over the next couple of days, they went to multiple Smithsonian museums, including the African American Museum, the Holocaust Museum, the American History Museum, the Natural History Museum, and more. One of the nights they hopped on a trolly and toured the monuments at night.
“The most memorable monument we went to was the US Marine Corps War Memorial because just seeing it in the dead of night with the lights around it, was just stunning,” senior Oliver Gomes said.
Another day they got to tour the inside of the White House, the Capitol Building, and the Library of Congress.
“My favorite part of D.C. was going to the White House. I think that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, even though it wasn’t the most interesting,” Gomes said.
Not only is D.C. home to some beautiful monuments, but it’s also home to some delicious food. They went to the famous Georgetown Cupcakes, and some had dinner at the historical restaurant, The Hamilton.
They wrapped up their trip with a close bonding experience. All 15 members got trapped in an elevator for 30 minutes and had to be rescued by firefighters as they were heading up to their rooms to pack for the flight home.
