[ACE 199 Experiential Study Tour to Washington, DC | Spring Break 2014]

With chattering teeth and white breath, we stepped on the endless Dupont Circle escalator to the bowels of the DC Metro. The Metro scanners seemed foreign to our virgin eyes, but, with help, we prevailed with minor setbacks. The red-line screeched to halt near us--the wind messing our perfectly parted hair.  The angst set deep when confronted with the notion that the people we would be meeting with this week, the leaders in DC, could have the potential to shape our careers in agricultural leadership.

Meetings with various agricultural cooperative groups and journalists would prove to be invaluable, full of both information and tact, as well as rich in personal outreach and networking. It is apparent, though overtly friendly and partisan, that divides in agricultural policy run deep on the Capitol. Though this is doubtlessly the case, both public and private citizens work countless hours at our nations Capitol to redraft and optimize agricultural policy in the United States. Washington DC is, without doubt, the most politically important city in the world for agriculture.

We had the great fortune of starting our day at the American Farm Bureau Federation where we heard from President Bob Stallman, a Texan through and through, and Dale Moore, Executive Director of Public Policy at AFBF. Here, we were able to wet our appetites on how food and farm policy is influenced by key stakeholders.  The American Farm Bureau represents millions of Americans who are not only involved in farming as an occupation but also those who are interested in being a stakeholder in the industry. 

Following our visit to AFBF, we were treated to lunch and a great discussion with the president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Chuck Conner.  We then headed to the National Farmers Union and ended the day with two receptions - Washington DC style dining! The first was a reception for ³Ag Day² on Capitol Hill hosted by Sara Wyant, Executive Editor of Agri-Pulse.  We got to hear for the first of two times this week from Krysta Harden, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture.  We ended our day at Tortilla Coast mingling with House and Senate staffers from our Illinois delegation and were surprised to see that they are all merely a few years older than us.  It¹s safe to say that we were excited and enlightened after our first day in DC.