Line dancing to get the Junior Leadership Conference started!

This year’s Junior Leadership Conference (JLC) brought together 250 freshman and sophomore FFA members from all across Connecticut for a full day of hands-on learning and leadership growth. The event gave newer members the chance to connect with people from other chapters, build confidence and strengthen skills that will help them become stronger leaders back home. Although each workshop had a different focus, every activity connected to the idea of becoming more capable, organized and supportive FFA members.

One of the workshops focused on advocating for others, which became a favorite for many members. Instead of talking about big, complicated issues, the workshop covered everyday moments where someone might speak on a larger scale to stand up for a group. It helped students understand that leadership isn’t always about being the loudest person in the room; sometimes it’s about doing what’s right and speaking your mind.

Members learn what an advocate is and why they are important.

Another workshop covered creating routines and building good habits — something a lot of members admitted they struggle with. Members learned how having a consistent routine — whether for school, chores, chapter responsibilities or personal goals — can make them more dependable leaders. The workshop included team activities that showed how even small habits, such as planning or staying organized, can make a big difference in how a team functions.

There was also a workshop on parliamentary procedure, which helped members learn how to run official meetings the right way. Many freshman and sophomore members are stepping into officer roles or taking on more responsibility, so this workshop gave them a chance to practice making motions, understand how debates work, and learn the importance of structure in meetings. For members who had never tried parliamentary procedure, the activities made it easier to understand and were more fun than they expected.

Throughout the day, the biggest takeaway was that leadership comes in many forms. Whether members were learning how to advocate, practicing parli pro or figuring out better routines, every workshop pushed them to step out of their comfort zones. JLC showed that being a leader isn’t something that happens later in high school — it starts now.

By the end of the conference, the 250 members who attended walked away with new friendships, stronger skills and a clearer understanding of what they can bring to their chapters. JLC demonstrated that the next generation of FFA leaders is already off to a strong start.