Arbuckle teen wins speaking events, aims high

Ashley Flood has opinions on a lot of things, and likes to express them.

And, she's good at it.

The 18-year-old Pierce High School senior recently won her second straight RCD Speak-Off competition, earning $150 at the regional level and will compete at the state level on Nov. 10 in Stockton.

"I just like the challenge of learning something I've never learned before, and speaking on it," said Flood.

This year's topic is what resource conservation districts can do to integrate safe food practices and conservation practices.

Flood said she focused on a hands-on approach.

"My point is show us how they (districts) can help us, and not just say how they can help us," Flood said, "and how I can use the information (they) give me to improve myself."

The speech also includes specific examples, such as actually going out and showing farmers and ranchers how conservation methods can be used in safe food practices.

Flood got involved in the competitions through FFA, which she has been a member of all four years at Pierce High.

It started with the Creed competition as a freshman, and when Flood heard about this program, she approached her adviser, George Green, about joining it.

Flood said the speech must be between three and five minutes, any shorter or any longer and the judges take points away.

The senior admits being very nervous at the competition, the largest she had been involved with to date. But when it was over, she knew she had done very well.

"I was really proud of myself," she said.

"The only negative criticism was my rocking, because I was nervous," Flood said. "And they told me to dress to impress because the smallest thing can nick you."

The top prize at the state competition is $300.

Flood said, while the money is nice, being able to put the competitions on her résumé is far more important — especially since she aspires to be an attorney.

Flood said she would like to do her undergraduate work at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., a campus she saw first-hand as part of a summer scholar program.

"And I would love to go to Georgetown for law school," she said.

Flood is busy putting together all the admission and scholarship information for her collegiate career, but said she also wants to enjoy the last seven months or so at Pierce.

In addition to FFA, she also is president of the Friday Nite Live group, was class president her junior year, plays basketball and softball, and helped coach the junior varsity volleyball team.

She also is a coach with the Little Bears youth basketball program.

Her parents, Nina and Casey Collins, moved the family to Arbuckle from Vacaville about six years ago. Flood lives with a sister, Jewell, brothers Maurece and Tristin, and three adopted siblings, Thomas, Kerma and Tima.