By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

Finalists of Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) AgVentures Challenge: “Pitch It, Market It, Sell It” State Contest recently traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with elected officials and see historical sites in Washington, D.C.

The expense-paid trip was part of the prize package the students received for being finalists in the state contest.

“It’s important for young adults to understand constitutional government and the free enterprise system,” McKenna Bush, TFB youth outreach coordinator, said. “This trip to D.C. helps bring the contest full circle for the students and gives them a chance to meet congressional leaders.”

The students on the trip included Joshua Jones of Rusk County, Ethan Domke of Ellis County, Abbigayle Smith of Coke County, Avery Hulsman of Grimes County and Franklin Gavranovic of Wharton County.

The finalists were able to meet with U.S. Reps. Pete Sessions, Michael McCaul, Jake Ellzey, Troy Nehls, Nathanial Moran and August Pfluger. The students also met with U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. Congressman Sessions gave the students an evening tour of the U.S. Capitol, which included watching the members vote from the U.S. House of Representatives gallery.

They also met with congressional interns from Texas A&M University and Texas Tech University.

“These young adults are extremely bright and went above and beyond by competing in the AgVentures Challenge contest,” Bush said. “This trip is an opportunity to reward them for their hard work, broaden their network and participate in experiential learning.”

Each student brought home a different lesson from the trip.

“We were reminded of how much our representatives care,” Jones, the contest winner, said. “If they couldn’t be there, they made sure their staff were there to talk to us, and then if they were there, they were very personal. They took time to learn about us, and it gave me a lot of confidence in our congressional lawmakers.”

Domke, the contest runner-up, encourages young people to seek out any opportunity to visit Capitol Hill.

“You can get a sense of disconnect nowadays with so much media surrounding the whole political system,” Jones said. “I learned our representatives and senators really do understand where I come from and the place that I represent, and it gives me more confidence in them.”

The trip helped students understand grassroots advocacy and how one voice can help make a difference.

“I learned a lot about how our senators and congressmen and women are really doing a lot of work,” Domke said. “You get a look into how busy and how much they’re doing behind the scenes.”

The trip was also about networking opportunities and learning American history.

The group visited the International Spy Museum and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. They toured Old Town Alexandria, Arlington National Cemetery and Mount Vernon. They also attended the Congressional Baseball Game at the Washington Nationals Park.

This was the first year for the contest and open to high school seniors who completed TFB’s Thrive experience last August.

Thrive is part of TFB’s Student Success Series, which includes virtual and in-person programs for students in eighth through twelfth grade. The Student Success Series aims to help students develop a better understanding of advocacy, learn more about Farm Bureau and grow personal and professional skills they can use in the classroom and future careers.

Ten finalists participated in the state AgVentures Challenge where they created an agricultural product, developed a marketing pitch and presented their ideas to a panel of judges.

The state contest took place at TFB’s Conference and Training Center in Waco Jan. 27.

For more information about the Student Success Series, visit texasfarmbureau.org/student-success-series.