Success for WSD FFA at Sub-District Competition

WAITSBURG — On March 11, twenty-seven Waitsburg FFA members and three judges traveled to Pomeroy to compete in the sub-district competitions. They had a successful day competing due in large part to the leadership of their FFA officers.

Senior Cedar Stegall placed second in the Prepared Public Speaking event, where students gave a six-to-eight-minute speech on an agriculture topic. After their speeches, the students answer questions from the judges. They are judged on written manuscript, speech delivery, content, and responses to judges’ questions.

Sophomore Hannah Peralez placed third in the Extemporaneous Public Speaking event. Students are given thirty minutes to prepare a speech on a general agriculture subject. The student then gives a four-to-six-minute speech, followed by questions by the judges. Participants are judged on speech delivery, content, and responses to questions. The event demonstrates the student’s ability to organize their thoughts into a comprehensive and logical presentation.

The Beginning Parliamentary Procedure team of sophomores placed second. Kayla Mikesell, Trace Nesje, Emerson Underwood, Pilar Easton, Griffen Hinchliffe, and Kenzie Castillo had the opportunity to show the judges their knowledge as they expressed mastery of parliamentary law while building teamwork, leadership, and communication skills.

A team of freshmen participated in the Conduct of Chapter event, which challenges first-year members to perform the official FFA opening ceremonies, run an efficient chapter meeting, and engage in group discussion.

Two eighth-grade Ritual teams competed, with the first placing second and the second placing third. The event is a team activity where members utilize problem-solving and teamwork to develop a solution for a given scenario

Carter Barron, Gage Mynear, Katy Allen, Kayla Kuykendall, and Rowdy Cole were on Team 1. Sophia Castillo, Jake Lynch, Joslin Nodine, Kellen Coulston, Shaunna Hilton, and Stella Pearson were on Team 2.

The above sub-district finalists will be joined at Districts on March 26 by Marion Duncan, who will compete in Agriculture Education.

On March 20, the FFA’s Ag Mechanics team traveled to Garfield-Palouse and placed fifth. FFA Advisor Nicole Abel said the team improves each time they compete.