Washington FFA recently represented the state of West Virginia at the Great American State Fair Livestock Showcase held June 25–26 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., after being selected through a competitive application process as the only youth organization chosen to represent the Mountain State during the opening two days of the event.
Nine students representing Washington FFA and Charles Town Middle School FFA participated in the national showcase, which brought together youth exhibitors from across the country to educate visitors about agriculture, livestock production, and the role of youth organizations in developing the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Throughout the two-day showcase, Washington FFA members introduced visitors from across the nation to agriculture by sharing the stories behind their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects and answering questions about livestock production and agricultural education. The chapter exhibited dairy goats, Boer goats, Dorset sheep, a crossbred heifer calf, and a Hereford cow-calf pair while serving as ambassadors for West Virginia agriculture.
Students representing the delegation included Piper Stolipher, Clay Stolipher, Tyler Stolipher, Maddie McDonald, Cameron McDonald, Mason Friend, Hunter Braithwaite, Carly Masters, and Isabelle Friend of Charles Town Middle School FFA.
The event provided students with opportunities to interact with several national and state leaders. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, and U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon each visited the Livestock Showcase to learn more about students' livestock projects and discuss the importance of agricultural education and youth organizations such as FFA and 4-H.
West Virginia Commissioner of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt also visited with each student, recognizing their efforts as young agricultural leaders and presenting each participant with a letter acknowledging the importance of their work within the agriculture industry.
One of the event's highlights came during a livestock showmanship demonstration, where students showcased the knowledge and skills developed through their SAE projects while answering questions about their animals. Secretary Rollins and Secretary McMahon served as judges for the demonstration, providing students with a unique opportunity to share their experiences with national leaders.
Washington FFA members also received national media attention throughout the event. Students appeared live on Fox News during interviews with reporter Alex Hogan, participated in an interview with Tomi Lahren on Talk of the Town, and were featured above the fold on the front page of the Saturday edition of The Washington Post. The Livestock Showcase also drew several well-known agricultural advocates and content creators, including Gatlin Didier, Granny Bibbins, Tucker Brown, Amanda Radke, and Apple Girl Kait.
In appreciation of the support shown throughout the event, students presented Washington FFA hats and jars of their county FFA's famous apple butter to Secretary Rollins, Secretary McMahon, Commissioner Leonhardt, Gatlin Didier, and Granny Bibbins as a small token of West Virginia hospitality.
"Representing West Virginia on the National Mall was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students," said Washington FFA Advisor Katlin Grantham. "While the national recognition was exciting, what made us most proud was watching our students confidently share their knowledge, advocate for agriculture, and demonstrate the leadership skills they've developed through agricultural education and FFA. They represented our chapter, our community, and our state with professionalism and pride."
Tyler Stolipher reflected on the significance of the experience, saying, "To me, participating in the Great American State Fair was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but it was about more than just exhibiting livestock. It was an opportunity to represent our chapter and West Virginia agriculture on a national stage. Getting to meet several U.S. Secretaries and being interviewed by different news outlets gave us the chance to share our story with people far beyond the fair. I hope we helped people better understand agriculture, where their food comes from, and what FFA is all about."
Piper Stolipher emphasized the responsibility students felt as the state's representatives.
"I was really proud of how everyone in our chapter represented West Virginia. No matter who stopped by our exhibit, our members were always willing to answer questions, talk about our animals, and share what agriculture and FFA mean to us. We knew we were the only youth organization from West Virginia there, so we wanted to leave a good impression. I think we showed people that FFA is about a lot more than showing livestock—it's about hard work, responsibility, and being good ambassadors for agriculture."
Reflecting on the lasting impact of the event, Mason Friend added,
"The experience showed me how important it is to share agriculture's story in a positive, honest, and engaging way. It reminded me that every conversation is an opportunity to advocate for agriculture and inspire others to appreciate the hard work and dedication of farmers and ranchers."
Washington FFA extends its sincere appreciation to the Great American State Fair, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Jefferson County Schools, parents, families, community partners, and the many volunteers and supporters whose generosity and encouragement made this unforgettable experience possible.
About Washington FFA
Washington FFA is the National FFA Organization chapter at Washington High School in Charles Town, West Virginia. Through classroom instruction, Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs), leadership development, and career preparation activities, members develop premier leadership, personal growth, and career success while serving their school, community, and the agriculture industry Washington FFA advisors are Jay Earl and Katlin Grantham
Link to images from event: Great American State Fair