Meet Chris Hall
Chris Hall is a junior at Western Boone Jr./Sr. High School. He serves as his chapter president and the Indiana FFA District IV treasurer.
Hall attended the Washington Leadership Conference (WLC) in the summer of 2024, after being inspired by fellow FFA members. “They believed it would be a great opportunity for me and helped push me to go,” says Hall.
As he headed to the nation’s capital, Hall hoped to develop more leadership and personal skills.
“I wanted to learn more about helping my chapter in any way I could,” he says. “I also wanted to learn more about myself and what I needed to work on to become a better leader and mentor.”
A Journey of Leadership Development
Throughout WLC, sessions are held that relate back to the purpose of leadership. All the sessions, reflection times and discussions helped Hall change his perceptions.
Before attending, “I didn’t believe I had the necessary skills to make a difference in my chapter and community,” he says. “After listening to the lessons and activities we went through, I realized I didn’t need to be like everyone else. By being myself, I could help lead others in my own way.”
By the time he left WLC, Hall understood that “there is no right or wrong way to lead, and everyone has their own way,” he says. “If you want to make a difference and be a good leader, believe in yourself and be the best version of you that you can be.”
As Hall headed back to Indiana, he took this mindset with him and applied it to his roles and personal life.
The Power of Service and Teamwork
During WLC, there’s a service project where attendees work as a collective group to pack meals for a non-profit named “Meals of Hope.” Hall loved being a part of this project, and he appreciated the opportunity to work as a team toward the goal of helping people in need.
“It’s something I would love to see more of everywhere I go,” he says. “If more people helped others, it could make an amazing impact around the world. All of that can start with one person in a community who has the will to do it.”
Through the project, attendees are placed at tables with individuals they probably haven’t met yet. Each person has their own responsibility, such as weighing the product to ensure it’s the correct weight or pouring ingredients in. As Hall worked with his table group, he felt everyone’s contribution mattered.
“If one person wasn’t doing their part, it would affect everyone,” he says. “I believe everyone, including myself, played a vital role in allowing us to accomplish what we did.”
From the Steps of the Capitol to the Community
Since returning from WLC, Hall has been motivated to apply all the skills and reflections he gained to become a better leader and mentor for the younger members around him. “I believe that by setting a good example for them,” he says.
As part of his agriculture involvement, Hall served on the Boone County Junior Fair Board Committee. He’s also applied skills across all aspects of his life, continuing to positively impact agriculture and those around him.
“I highly recommend attending WLC to any member,” Hall says. “It’s an amazing opportunity and a great place to visit. You learn so much and meet so many new people from around the country. It was an experience I will never forget and always look back on. So, if you’re on the edge about attending, take that leap and see what WLC is all about.”
Authentic Leadership
Hall’s experience at WLC helped him continue to grow as a leader. By applying the lessons he learned, he continues to leave a lasting impact on his chapter, community and the world around him. His story reminds us that everyone has their own way of leading, and true leadership is about leaving every place better than you found it.
