In an increasingly urban world, FFA gives students an opportunity to understand and advocate for the value of agriculture. In addition to learning about and showing animals, FFA members can participate in Leadership Development Events, or LDEs, that take place in the fall semester.

After placing second in their respective LDEs at the Capital District contest in early November, freshman Jesus Jaramillo-Gallegos and freshman Wyatt Pickett will compete at the Area XII LDE contest in Georgetown on Nov. 23. Jaramillo-Gallegos is competing in Greenhand Spanish Creed Speaking, while Pickett’s LDE is Greenhand Creed Speaking. The term Greenhand indicates a first year competitor.

“Honestly, [I’m excited for] just traveling around, maybe meeting more people,” Jaramillo-Gallegos said. “And [I’m] nervous about probably just not being able to define my weak areas. I feel like I did decent for my first time ever doing this. I just think it’s fun.”

The LDE Creed Speaking event requires students to recite five paragraphs of the FFA Creed from memory, detailing the ideals of agriculture and FFA values. Upon completion, the participant is asked one question from each of the three judges present about the Creed and what it means to the contestant. Before going in, participants stay in a practice room preparing before the event.

“Just going over there and meeting new people from different schools, getting to interact in these different events, giving you a chance to compete in something, or if you pass on to the next level or the next ability, it helps you get more respect for yourself,” Jaramillo-Gallegos said. “Believe in your own ability, believe in yourself and continue.”

Initially, Pickett planned to do welding because of his brother’s positive experience, but did not have the spot in his schedule. However, the teacher encouraged him to join FFA and participate in Greenhand Creed Speaking instead.  

“I kind of wish I got first because my teacher thought I was going to get it, so I feel kind of disappointed about that,” Pickett said. “But besides that, I think I’ve been doing pretty good. I’ve been doing the best I can.”

To prepare for his event, Jaramillo-Gallegos watches previous contestants who advanced to State and learns from them.

“I wouldn’t say mimic, but get their own different abilities and transfer into my own, maybe give my own twist, my own thing, my own flair,” Jaramillo-Gallegos said. “And then for Area, I’m just focusing on the errors and the weak areas that I have. For example, right now it’s the pace, so I’m just working on maybe slowing down my words a little bit more, focusing more, pronouncing it fully and making sure it’s well heard.”

There are many different LDE events that students can participate in. In the future, Pickett said he wants to try Agricultural Mechanics, where students create an agriculture related project by welding and using machine parts. Pickett said it has been difficult to find time to practice his Creed speaking when he has lacrosse three times a week.

“I just rehearse when I can,” Pickett said. “I try to remember questions and answers to questions that I can use for multiple things. I just clear my head, try to sleep, just calm down basically, trying not to get too nervous. Last time at district I got so nervous because I was like, dang, I’m going to mess this up somehow. The 10 minutes before I have to go do it just sucks. It’s horrible. I’m still nervous about that.”

According to Jaramillo-Gallegos, he got into FFA and Spanish Creed Speaking after being in class and being the only one able to speak Spanish. In the future, he is thinking about participating in the Mock Trial LDE.

“Sometimes it’s slightly difficult depending on the person,” Jaramillo-Gallegos said. “I would say that because for some people maybe just reciting words is easy. But the hardest part about it is not only do you have to recite it, memorize it, practice it, the way you start, the way you pronounce words, the way you do your tongue even, or how loud you are, but you also have to focus on really expressing yourself and making sure it’s known that you do believe these words that you are reciting.”

Another FFA member, sophomore Hailey Evans competes in Senior FFA Quiz, a quiz on everything and anything FFA related, and Agricultural Advocacy, a presentation about an agricultural topic relevant to the participant’s area. The quiz team placed third, just missing Area advancement. For Evans’ Ag Advo presentation, she created a game show presentation about sustainable agriculture. Beyond LDE events, FFA is also heavily based around showing livestock, which Evans also participates in, showing her three pigs.

“I feel I’m performing well,” Evans said. “I plan to run for an officer position at the end of the year. My parents told me to do FFA when I was really young, and I was like, okay, cool. I would drive past the Vista Ridge barn and I’d think, oh my gosh, I’m going to be there soon. So last year when I was there it was just like a whole new world. It’s just super fun.”