Washington, D.C
AgVentures Challenge finalists visit Washington, D.C. – Texas Farm Bureau
By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist
Finalists of Texas Farm Bureau’s (TFB) 2023 AgVentures Challenge: Pitch It, Market It, Sell It state contest recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with elected officials on Capitol Hill and visit historical sites.
The students on the trip included Mattison Smith of Wood County, Joe Polster of Hamilton County, Whitley Anderson of Scurry County, Justin Hill of Moore County, Jhett Davis of Johnson County and Aubrey Ellis of Rush County.
The expense-paid trip was part of the prize package the students received for being finalists in the state contest.
“The trip gave them a chance to meet congressional leaders, bringing the contest full circle for the students,” McKenna Bush, TFB Youth Outreach coordinator, said. “It is important for young adults to understand constitutional government and the free enterprise system.”
During the trip, the finalists met with U.S. Reps. Pete Sessions, Jake Ellzey, Lance Gooden, Ronny Jackson, Nathaniel Moran and Jodey Arrington.
The students also met with U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn.
They visited the American Farm Bureau Federation office and had an evening tour of the U.S. Capitol.
They also met with congressional interns from Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and current staffers who are alumni from the intern programs.
The trip doubled as an opportunity for networking and learning about American history.
“This trip is an opportunity to reward them for their hard work, broaden their network and participate in experiential learning. This group of young adults are bright, and the trip allowed them to gain deeper knowledge of not only the nation’s government, but experience the capital while making memories,” Bush said.
Each student brought home a different lesson from the trip.
“It’s definitely a blessing to grow a deeper understanding of the role congressional members play,” Smith, the contest winner, said. “This trip has me looking at my future a little differently because being in D.C. and seeing everything at work at the Capitol is really different than what you see and learn about in school.”
Smith also put emphasis on the importance of agriculture in D.C.
“It’s important that farmers, ranchers and people who are passionate about agriculture go to D.C. because you’re able to share a story that they might not really understand unless it’s coming from you,” Smith said.
Polster, the contest runner-up, has always been interested in politics and noted he gained new perspectives while at the nation’s capital.
“It was truly an awesome experience,” he said. “We visited with my congressman, met their staff and learned about the different positions that are within government and how legislation is created and passed.”
The trip helped students understand grassroots advocacy and how one voice can help make a difference.
“If lawmakers aren’t representing agriculture properly, we’re not going to be able to grow food and raise livestock. It’s important we have congressmen and senators who are willing to meet with us so we can show the importance of agriculture in their everyday life” Polster said.
They visited the International Spy Museum and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The group also toured Old Town Alexandria, Arlington National Cemetery and Mount Vernon, as well as attended the Congressional Baseball Game at the Washington Nationals Park.
Contest details
This was the first year for the contest and open to high school seniors who completed TFB’s Thrive experience last August.
Thrive is part of TFB’s Student Success Series, which includes virtual and in-person programs for students in eighth through twelfth grade. The Student Success Series aims to help students develop a better understanding of advocacy, learn more about Farm Bureau and grow personal and professional skills they can use in the classroom and future careers.
Ten finalists participated in the state AgVentures Challenge where they created an agricultural product, developed a marketing pitch and presented their ideas to a panel of judges.
The state contest took place at TFB’s Conference and Training Center in Waco Jan. 26.
For more information about the Student Success Series, visit texasfarmbureau.org/student-success-series.
WASHINGTON (7News) — An early Wednesday morning incident at D.C.’s Metro Center left multiple riders injured after a work vehicle made contact with a Silver Line train just before the end of service.
According to Metro officials, the train was holding at the station when the work vehicle struck the rear car shortly after midnight. Officials said there were 27 customers on board at the time.
Officials say 11 people reported non-life-threatening injuries and that Metro personnel were not seriously injured.
SEE ALSO | Metro’s board to vote on budget that calls for fully automated trains on the Red Line
Passengers who did not report injuries were transferred to another train and continued toward Downtown Largo.
The train involved was the final Silver Line run of the night.
Metro said the incident remains under investigation as crews work to determine the cause.
As of 3:30 a.m., it’s not clear what the potential impacts to the morning service may be.
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Cost of living calculators aren’t always reliable. Try this instead.
Here are a few ways to give you a better idea of how much it may cost you if you’re considering moving to a new city.
Problem Solved
Earning enough to be considered middle class has gotten more expensive, with rising housing and everyday costs pushing the income bar higher, according to a recent report from GOBankingRates.
The median range for middle-class income across the country is between $59,000 and $104,000 in 2026, depending on which state you live in. GOBanking Rates used Pew Research Center’s definition of middle class — income ranging from two-thirds to twice a state’s median household income — and added data from the U.S. Census Bureau to report lowest middle-income, highest middle-class income and median income for each state, including Maryland and Virginia, and Washington D.C.
The current national middle-class minimum of $59,000 would have declared you middle class a decade ago in the U.S. In 2016, earning $39,000 placed a household at the lower edge of the middle class — and in regions like DC, MD and VA, median incomes were already far higher than the national median, so the “middle-class floor” was much higher than $39,000 even then.
In the DC region, the income required to be considered middle class is significantly higher than nationally, with the threshold starting around $61,000 in Virginia and nearly $69,000 in Maryland — compared with about $47,000 nationwide, GOBankingRates data shows. To be considered middle class in Washington DC, you’d have to earn at least $70,200. GoBankingRates omitted DC from their report; however, using the same formula and same US Census data cited, USA TODAY Network was able to calculate the low, high and median middle class income ranges. Here’s what the report shows and what we found for middle-class consideration in 2026.
What is middle class in Washington DC?
The middle class is a socioeconomic group in the U.S. that falls between the working class and upper class, earning around the middle of the income distribution for where they live. Middle class households often are able to cover their bills, rely on loans to buy homes or cars, and occasionally eat out or vacation, but not without careful budgeting, according to Investopedia.
Washington DC’s middle-class income in 2024 (the most recent year available from Census data) was between $70,200 and $209,600. GoBankingRates omitted DC middle-class data; however, USA TODAY Network used the same calculation, using the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) and the Pew Research Center’s benchmark definition of middle class. Here is the breakdown for middle-class in Washington DC:
- Median household income: $104,800
- Lowest end of middle-class income: $70,200
- Highest end of middle-class income: $209,600
Due to the region’s high cost of living, Washington DC’s middle-class median income surpasses not only the U.S. median, but it’s neighbors in Delaware, Virginia and Maryland. It also slightly surpasses the median middle-class income of New Jersey.
What is middle class in Virginia?
In Virginia, the income needed to be considered middle class starts at about $61,400 and can range up to roughly $184,200, according to GOBankingRates. That is based on Pew Research Center’s definition — two-thirds to twice the median household income. Here’s the breakdown of Virginia’s middle-class income as reported in 2026 using the latest Census data available from 2024:
- Median household income: $92,090
- Lowest end of middle-class income: $61,393
- Highest end of middle-class income: $184,180
What is middle class in Maryland?
To be considered middle-class in Maryland, the income required starts at about $68,600 and can extend up to roughly $205,800, according to GOBankingRates, which used the latest 2024 U.S. Census Bureau data available in their 2026 report.
For many Maryland households, especially in the DC suburbs, earning what sounds like a solid income does not always translate into financial comfort once housing, childcare and community costs are factored in: Maryland housing costs (rent and home prices) are well above national averages, according to Zillow market trends, and commuting costs for DC-area workers are among the longest and costliest, Census data shows. Maryland also consistently ranks among the most expensive states for childcare, often surpassing $15,000 per year per child, according to a Care.com 2024 Cost of Care report.
Highest middle-class incomes in the US
- Massachusetts income range: $69,885 to $209,656
- Maryland income range: $68,603 to $205,810
- New Jersey income range: $69,529 to $208,588
- Hawaii income range: $67,163 to $201,490
- California income range: $66,766 to $200,298
- New Hampshire income range: $66,521 to $199,564
- Washington income range: $66,259 to $198,778
- Colorado income range: $64,742 to $194,226
- Connecticut income range: $64,033 to $192,098
- Virginia income range: $61,393 to $184,180
Lori Comstock is a New Jersey-based news reporter covering trending news with USA TODAY Network’s Mid-Atlantic Connect Team. She covers news in the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Reach her at LComstock@usatodayco.com.
Washington, D.C
US industry leaders take sport fishing issues to Washington DC – Angling International
The impact of tariffs on the US fishing tackle industry and the need for sound fisheries management were among the topics discussed by attendees of the American Sportfishing Association (ASA)’s first ever Keep America Fishing in DC Fly-In.
It included industry leaders who last week joined together in Washington DC and all walked hundreds of miles across the US Capital Complex to advocate for the interests of the US trade and the entire recreational fishing community.
The group also enjoyed conversations with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Director, Dr Neil Jacobs, Director of the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Brian Nesvik, Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Representative Blake Moore (R-UT).
ASA President and CEO, Glenn Hughes, said: “We look forward to continuing the conversation with legislators throughout the rest of this Congress and to an even bigger Keep America Fishing Fly-In in 2027.”
Above: From left: ASA President Glenn Hughes and Vice President of Government Affairs, Mike Leonard, with Senator Martin Heinrich (centre).
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