Thirteen Waterville Jr./Sr. High School students recently put their public speaking skills to the test at the District 5 Junior High Future Farmers of America (FFA) competition, hosted by Oppenheim-Ephratah-St. Johnsville Central School District (OESJ FFA). The competition was held on Feb. 1 and showcased the depth of talent and critical thinking among these young agricultural leaders, with several earning the right to advance.
Layla Barnes and Angel Nguyen competed in the Junior People in Agriculture category, presenting insightful perspectives on potential careers in the industry. Meanwhile, Wyatt Keenan took on the Senior People in the Agriculture category, delivering a compelling presentation on the role of an Equine Farm Manager – an effort that earned him a spot in the next round.
Waterville also made a strong impression in the Agricultural Issues Forum. Team 1 composed of Allyson Ford, Olivia Ford, Ericka Foley, Skylar Falin, Austin Florenz, and Tucker Florenz tackled the hot topic issue of GMOs in farming. Team 2 composed of McKenna Furner, Nathan Jones, Cooper Patterson, and Edmond Yang, delivered a powerful discussion on the critical role of immigrant labor in agriculture. Their well-researched and thought-provoking presentation secured them a place in the substrate competition on March 15.
The Senior Prepared Public Speaking contest saw fierce competition, with Allyson Ford and Cooper Patterson stepping up to the podium. Cooper’s speech on farm subsidies in the United States proved compelling enough to advance to the next level.
“All competitors benefited by practicing and improving their public speaking skills,” said Cindy Gallagher, Waterville agricultural science teacher. “I am proud of all our members who worked hard and stepped out of their comfort zones. They will all be more prepared for college and careers because of their efforts!”