West Rowan FFA advisor Jason Chester received a phone call one day with the news that the chapter’s Agricultural Issues team was one of the 12 chapters chosen to receive a Dan Nafziger Memorial Convention Endowment.
Because of this funding, Chester and the West Rowan Agricultural Issues team were able to travel to Indianapolis from Mount Ulla, N.C., to compete in the Agricultural Issues Forum Leadership Development Event (LDE).
“You think about bringing a team of seven students to Indianapolis, it helped pay for some of their fuel in the bus. It also paid for hotel rooms out here, so it allowed us to have a full experience and maybe not the stress of fundraising to make it happen,” Chester said.
The West Rowan FFA Agricultural Issues team huddles for a group prayer before competing.
The Agricultural Issues LDE invites students to analyze local, state, national and international issues. Then, they display their understanding of issue analysis through portfolios and presentations.
Mya Agnant, a West Rowan Agricultural Issues team member, has become interested in learning about and researching issues regarding the Right-To-Farm because of the LDE. (Right-To-Farm laws protect farmers and ranchers against nuisance lawsuits filed by those who move into areas with existing farming operations.)
“I learned about this issue for the first time when I [prepared for the LDE] and I went more in depth. It helped me figure out things that happen in our community and what other people have to go through and what farmers and consumers go through,” Agnant said, “It just taught me a lot about our community and what happens and what goes on.”
Along with Agnant, team members Karsen Simpson and Andrew Mead are looking forward to all that the 95th National FFA Convention & Expo has to offer.
“Competing at national convention is absolutely an honor to all of us. We have a really good team and this is something we really enjoy doing, so we’re just happy to be here and we’re very thankful for the endowment,” Simpson said.
Mead added that he enjoys competing in the Agricultural Issues LDE because it draws on his strengths. “I really like public speaking; I’m not a very good test-taker and I’m not very good at studying, so public speaking for me is really good. That’s one of my strong suits,” he said.
Part of the convention experience is meeting new friends and catching up with old ones from around the nation. “I’m seeing all my buddies from the Washington Leadership Conference, and all my friends here. It’s a really great group. I love being here,” Mead said.
Learn more about FFA grants and scholarships available to FFA members and chapters.
