FFA Today: Iowa Student’s ‘Living to Serve’ Project Still Going Strong After 7 Years

Seven years after attending the Washington Leadership Conference, Blake Van Der Kamp’s FFA “Living to Serve” project has become a continual resource for his community.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (FFA Today) — Each year, the National FFA Organization hosts the Washington Leadership Conference, where thousands of members travel to the nation’s capital to develop leadership skills and learn how to make a difference in their communities.

A key part of the experience is creating a “Living to Serve” plan, which encourages members to identify a need and take action.

For Blake Van Der Kamp, a Diamond Trail FFA alumnus from Iowa, that plan turned into a long-term commitment. Seven years after attending the conference, the service project he launched is still making an impact.

Van Der Kamp said that what started as a social media post to help students quickly get school supplies grew into a larger community project.

FFA members interested in attending the Washington Leadership Conference can contact their chapter advisor for registration information.

Related Stories
Cooper Kline is one of four finalists for the American Star Farmer award.
Noah Wiley discusses his path from growing up on the farm to becoming a national FFA finalist.
Jose Yepez turned a high school lawn care operation into a business with $1 million in total revenue.
CEO Scott Stump credits agriculture educators and advisors with helping drive the growth.
Young farmers gathered in Indianapolis for leadership development, industry tours and networking.
Addison Kennon’s FFA project is giving her real-world experience in growing and marketing candied jalapeños.

Knoxville native Neal Burnette-Irwin is a graduate from MTSU where he majored in Journalism and Entertainment Studies. He works as a digital content producer with RFD News and is represented by multiple talent agencies in Nashville and Chicago.


LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

The census will collect population data on 15 breeds currently on the Conservation Priority List.
What started with free pizza at a sixth-grade FFA meeting eventually led Nowotny to national office.
Growers say the guest worker program has become increasingly costly and complicated.
Safety advocates are urging farmers and motorists to take precautions during harvest.
More than 1,500 farm emergency kits have been provided to dairy farmers across the Southeast.
More grain can now move by rail to markets across the U.S. and Mexico.