LeadAR National Study Tour—Day 1

by Dani Pugsley, president and CEO, Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce - September 26, 2025

Day One in Washington, D.C. was the beginning of an exciting week for LeadAR Class 21. There were 21 of us, along with two advisors, making our way to our nation’s capital to learn more about national policy, meet with leaders, and see how decisions in D.C. connect back home to Arkansas. The anticipation of what the week would hold was high, but first, we had to get through a full day of travel.

The Little Rock group had an early start with a 7:20 a.m. flight, and there was a fair amount of nervous energy about everyone making it to the airport on time in those early hours. Others flew out of Shreveport and northwest Arkansas, and by midday, we were all well on our way. Navigating layovers, flight changes, and busy terminals was its own kind of team effort, and there was a shared sense of relief and excitement once we began landing in D.C.

Our first challenge as a group came almost immediately: learning how to navigate the Metro system. For many of us, it was our first time using public transit on that scale, but with SmarTrip cards in hand, we managed to figure it out. Escalators, color-coded lines and transfers all made sense after a few minutes of trial and error. By the time we arrived at our stop and surfaced back onto the streets of Washington, D.C., there was a sense of pride; we had conquered the Metro. The short walk to the hotel, however, gave us an unexpected introduction to the city’s wildlife. Swarms of Spotted Lanternflies seemed determined to land on us, creating plenty of laughter (and some quick footwork) as we tried to dodge them with luggage in tow.

That evening, we gathered at Founding Farmers & Distillers for dinner, enjoying delicious food, plenty of conversation, and a chance to reconnect after a day of scattered travel. Around the table, there was relief that we had arrived safely, curiosity about what was to come, and excitement about finally experiencing D.C. together. Some classmates capped off the evening by renting scooters and cruising through the city streets. Others, including myself, knew better than to test our coordination in busy D.C. traffic and were content to watch the fun from solid ground.

Day One was about more than travel. It was about coming together, adjusting to a new environment, and sharing those first small victories. These moments set the stage for a week that promised to be filled with learning, connections, and memories that will last long after our time in Washington, D.C.