More than 2,100 FFA members from throughout the country will head to Washington, D.C., this summer for the 2016 Washington Leadership Conference, an opportunity to analyze their personal skills and interests, develop leadership skills, and create a meaningful community service plan that will make a difference in their home communities.

The student leadership event has been hosted by the National FFA Organization since 1969, and is held annually in Washington, D.C. This year’s conference began June 7 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

Until the conference ends on July 30, members will spend a week under the guidance of professionals, counselors and FFA staff members. In workshops, seminars and small groups, students will work to identify and develop their personal strengths and goals, undergo comprehensive leadership training, and will analyze the needs of their communities back home while developing a wide-ranging and high-impact community-service initiative.

In recent years, students have promoted agricultural literacy, brought awareness to abuse, collected and distributed shoes to individuals in Haiti, and created an awareness plan on hunger, among others.