Speak up. Speak out. Free Enterprise Speech finalists took to Capitol Hill this week to meet with legislators.

The finalists received an expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C. to visit elected officials, witness Congress in session and visit historical sites.

The Free Enterprise Speech Contest is held annually and is open to any young Texas Farm Bureau member who has attended the organization’s Youth Leadership Conference.

Through the competition, students are asked to share what they learned at the conference about constitutional government and the free enterprise system.

The contest is an opportunity to earn money for college, gain valuable communication skills and hone leadership skills.