My Oklahoma FFA Career

As we wrapped up National Convention last week, I've had a lot of time to reflect over my Oklahoma FFA Career and how I feel hanging up my Stillwater FFA jacket for the last time, and, so, I thought I would share with you what my first two years in the FFA entailed. As a preface, I am not sharing what I accomplished as a way to brag, it's just so you know what's possible for you, and to encourage the younger members that read this to know that's it's possible to be great when you're just beginning!

Contests: 8th Grade Year

• Opening and Closing Ceremonies (OCC)

OCC is an Oklahoma-only contest and it's just within the state. It's run just like speech contests-qualify for state, and compete at a later date! OCC is with a team of 6 and your advisor and you just run through Opening and Closing ceremonies together! It's such a great contest to start off with when you want to begin your public speaking journey, and I truly wish every state would consider adding it in the fall contests!

• Agriscience Fair

The Agriscience Fair is one of my top favorite contests, if not my favorite, because you research an agricultural issue and present to judges. You complete a project in one of the 6 categories, and either with a partner or by yourself. The Agriscience Fair is a great contest to start EARLY in your FFA career, and is great for those wanting to go into a research-based career!

• Prepared Public Speaking

This contest is also in the running for my favorite FFA contests! 8th grade yeat, my speech was over the "Grain Weevil", a robot that goes into grain bins and breaks up clumps of whatever is in the bin, so farmers don't have to go into those danger-prone areas! But, I am not going to lie, prepared public is a hard contest to get into, especially, if you don't like talking, but it's so great for your leadership skills in the long run! Also, through speech contests, I've met some of my best friends! SHOUT OUT TO OKLAHOMA FFA SPEECH CONTESTS!

• Meats Evaluation and Technology

I love meats eval! It's a contest that I think everyone should consider trying, at least once because of it's application potential! The things I learned in meats evaluation help me make strong choices when in the grocery store, and, when looking into a career with food/meat science, it was something I could do to "get my feet wet". 

Accomplishments: 8th Grade Year

• State Champion: Agriscience Fair-Food Products and Processing Systems, Division 1
• 3rd place finisher at Regional Speech Contest
• Stillwater FFA-Star Discovery Degree Recipient
• National Champion: Agriscience Fair-Food Products and Processing Systems, Division 1

Contests: 9th Grade Year

• Agriscience Fair
• Meats Evaluation and Technology
• Prepared Public Speaking: This year my topic was on how FFA can be more inclusive by the words we use, based on Mallory White's retiring address, that you can listen to here.

Accomplishments: 9th Grade Year

As always, thanks for reading, and come back next week for more "All About Ag with Esther" content!