FFA SpeakAg Pioneers Advocate for Agriculture on Capitol Hill

National FFA's SpeakAg Pioneers meet with legislators in Washington, D.C. to promote agriculture on National Ag Day

Apr. 3, 2026 at 12:02am

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A dynamic, fractured painting depicting young people in business attire walking through the corridors of the U.S. Capitol building, representing the advocacy efforts of the FFA SpeakAg Pioneers. Vibrant colors of red, white, and blue create a sense of patriotic energy and civic engagement.FFA's SpeakAg Pioneers bring the voice of young agricultural advocates to the halls of Congress, championing the industry's future on National Ag Day.Washington Today

A group of National FFA's SpeakAg Pioneers from across the United States gathered in Washington, D.C. on March 24th to celebrate National Ag Day. The SpeakAg Pioneers, which include state FFA officers, had the opportunity to meet with legislators and advocate for agriculture. The event also included other agricultural organizations such as Agriculture Future of America, 4-H, and Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences.

Why it matters

The SpeakAg Pioneer program provides a platform for young agricultural advocates to engage with policymakers and raise awareness about the importance of the agriculture industry. As the next generation of agricultural leaders, the SpeakAg Pioneers play a crucial role in ensuring the voice of agriculture is heard in the nation's capital.

The details

The SpeakAg Pioneer program is open to current state FFA officers through an application process. This year's SpeakAg Pioneers, including Indiana FFA State Secretary Lauren Argotte, had the opportunity to attend National Ag Day events, meet with legislators, and collaborate with other agricultural organizations. The Pioneers also work alongside Wrangler to create videos and social media content to promote agriculture.

  • The SpeakAg Pioneers gathered in Washington, D.C. on March 24, 2026 to celebrate National Ag Day.
  • The SpeakAg Pioneer program runs annually, with state officers being elected in June to participate.

The players

Lauren Argotte

Indiana FFA State Secretary and National FFA SpeakAg Pioneer.

National FFA

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a youth organization that promotes agricultural education and leadership development.

Agriculture Future of America

A non-profit organization that provides leadership and career development programs for college students and young professionals in the agriculture industry.

4-H

A youth development organization that focuses on hands-on learning experiences in areas such as science, healthy living, and civic engagement.

Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences

A non-profit organization that promotes diversity and inclusion in the agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences fields.

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What they’re saying

“The SpeakAg Pioneer program is only open for state officers that are serving in the current year. It's an application based process so in June you get elected and learn about the program you can apply.”

— Lauren Argotte, Indiana FFA State Secretary and National FFA SpeakAg Pioneer

“In Ag Day we had a large range of opportunities. The theme was together we grow so it was a super amazing experience because the FFA was there, but we also had a couple different organizations. We were able to become a real close-knit bond over the couple days that we were there. We had never met before hand but then we were all in DC. We were able to grow with each other. Were all young professionals either about to enter college or entering the workforce so we were able to talk to each other about our experiences and then go on all of these ag day opportunities together. So, going to the Capitol and talking to legislators was an amazing experience and we were able to learn from that as well.”

— Lauren Argotte, Indiana FFA State Secretary and National FFA SpeakAg Pioneer

“I like to remind everyone that everyone has a seat at the table of agriculture. For me, I didn't grow up in an ag background or with livestock but I was able to find my roots through FFA and my passion for advocacy so for young FFA members, I recommend them finding what makes them passionate about agriculture.”

— Lauren Argotte, Indiana FFA State Secretary and National FFA SpeakAg Pioneer

What’s next

The SpeakAg Pioneers will continue to advocate for agriculture throughout the year, using their platform to raise awareness and engage with policymakers. The program will open applications again in June for the next group of state FFA officers to participate.

The takeaway

The SpeakAg Pioneer program empowers the next generation of agricultural leaders to have a voice in the nation's capital, ensuring the agriculture industry's perspective is heard by policymakers. This program demonstrates the important role young advocates play in shaping the future of the agriculture industry.