126 enter FFA contest

Future Farmers of America is not just about taking animals to the fair.

Excitement and anticipation filled the air Wednesday at Orland High School, host of a regional FFA speech competition. From freshmen to seniors, 126 students vied for top honors in prepared speech, extemporaneous speech, job interview, knowledge of parliamentary procedure and knowledge of the FFA creed.

Orland FFA advisor and competition organizer Anna Canon said speech is “a huge component” in FFA. “Most people just think about us taking animals to the fair.”

But whenever people taWinners advance to the next phase of the competition March 17 at Butte College.

Corning, Maxwell, Williams and Arbuckle FFA chapters represented Colusa County at the event. They garnered two first-place finishes, three seconds and two thirds.

“This is one of the best competitions we have,” said Colusa’s FFA advisor, Heather Thomas. “It showcases our kids.”

Colusa

Senior Alyssa Sankey, 18, participated for the fourth year. She was a state finalist in 2007 and 2008, she said. This year, Alyssa came in second place in prepared speech.

Also on scene from Colusa was 14-year-old Alexis Ramirez, who competed in Creed. For her, it was simply the willingness to do it that got her to the event for the first time.

Maxwell

All four Maxwell representatives scored in the top three. Maddie Dunlap and Serena Robertson came in first and second in job interview. Alex Miller and Aaron Yang took home second and third in Creed.

Serena, 17, said her mock interview “went very well; I feel very confident.”

Maddie, a 16-year-old junior, said her interview was not what she anticipated. It was more about the judges wanting “to get to know you.”

Realizing this was her last section contest, Serena said she was a little sad and that she was just starting to think about all the “lasts” she’s facing in the next few months. She and Maddie both plan to go to college to major in agriculture communications.

Williams

The Williams crew entered two in Creed – Kayla MacKaben, 14, and Jessi Coder, 15 – Michael Goforth, 18, entered Job Interview; and Devon Carr stepped up in the Prepared Speech category and took first place.

Kayla and Jessi made the move from 4-H this year to FFA.

Advisor Brian Parker said they were chosen to complete because “they are academically superior and showed a desire to do more outside the classroom.”

Last year’s Williams Agricultural Mechanic Student of the Year, Michael’s interview fit his interests. He said he already has a job in the field, so it made sense to do compete in the category.

Devon, who went to the 2008 state competition in Creed, gave a speech titled “Going Green with Beef” about using beef fat to produce biodiesel fuel, which he called “the next big thing.”

After his speech – and before knowing he won – he said, “I did a good job. I was nervous on the first page, but I reassured myself and felt good. Whatever the outcome is, I know I gave my best.”

Arbuckle

Arbuckle FFA President Michelle Haggard, 17, was a little nervous as she entered the room to give her extemporaneous speech.  It did not seem to matter, though; she came in fourth.

She chose agriculture education as her topic, telling the judges she thinks “educating students on the agriculture industry or on just how to live” is important.

Joining Michelle in the individual competitions were Giovanna Vera, 16, who took third in Prepared Speech; in Creed, freshmen Ashley Flood and Nataly Gonzalez, who came in third; and Anastasia Christler, 16, Job Interview.

Arbuckle also entered the only Advanced Parliamentary Procedure team: Ryan Gonzales, 17; Shannen Schaae, 16; Alexis Velazquez, 15; and Zachary Graves, 17; Giovanna and Michelle rounded out the team.

Princeton

The Princeton competitors included Diane Rome and Jared Mascodi, who competed in Creed; Oscar Gutierrez and Jesus Jacobo in Extemporaneous Speech; and, Guillermo Rodriguez, Job Interview.