Utica FFA Public Speaking District Finalists (left to right): Skylar Stevens, Haley Unger, Melinda Wesley, Emmie Burgess and Jacob Stretton.
In my home chapter, Utica FFA, our busiest and favorite season is taking shape: LDE (Leadership Development Event) season!
LDEs are competitions that develop members’ abilities to work as a team and enhance their public speaking and decision-making skills. For Utica FFA, two popular LDEs are public speaking and the ag issues forum. Both LDEs have allowed Utica FFA members to compete for the Ohio FFA state title for two years: three state public speaking finalists and third- and fifth-place state ag issues teams.
My experience with LDEs has shaped the person I am today. Before I was involved in my FFA chapter, I was shy and soft-spoken, never wanting to talk to strangers and stand up and speak to a large number of people. However, when I joined FFA, I quickly decided that this was what was going to break me out of my shell. I’ve always been around great public speakers; my older sister loved the public speaking LDE in high school, and two of my aunts are past Ohio FFA State Officers. I knew if I went out of my comfort zone in FFA, I could be as successful as my family.
I started public speaking in my freshman year of high school, reciting the famous FFA Creed. I memorized it, learned hand motions, and struggled some with answering questions, but after a lot of practice, I could even answer those. I placed second at our sub district and then third at districts.
Melinda Wesley at the Ohio FFA State Public Speaking contest in 2024.
I was proud of putting myself into a situation where I wasn’t exactly sure of the outcome. After that first public speaking competition, I knew that it would be my favorite LDE and that I could one day be successful in it.
My sophomore year, I began competing in beginning prepared speaking. My speech was about the impact of Intel’s advancements near my hometown and how it impacted agriculture. That year, our chapter competed in a public speaking invitational. One of the judges asked me if they could share my speech with their colleagues. I was amazed that someone felt that my speech was that impactful. A year later, that judge asked me to join her on her ag podcast for a local radio station.
I then competed in advanced prepared public speaking in my junior year with my speech about the growing age of farmers. I competed at the state competition, which allowed me to grow and express my concern about the topic. If I never said I would try public speaking, I would have never gotten the opportunity to share my passion for agriculture, meet new people and accept amazing opportunities.
2024 Utica FFA Ag Issues Team: (left to right) Gracie Cyphers, Audrianna Wigle, Emmie Burgess, Audrey Boeshart, Emily O’Hara, Melinda Wesley and Katie Reed.
While I love public speaking and advocating for agriculture, ag issues forum is the perfect LDE that combines both. During the forum, your team selects a topic that is a relevant issue in agriculture and creates a skit to express the concern. In both years my chapter has done this LDE, we have placed third and fifth in the state. We have done topics on large industries impacting agriculture and artificial intelligence’s impact on agriculture. Ag issues allows you to connect to whatever topic you choose and express your concern about it. It has allowed me to work as a team when creating and executing our script in the competition. Part of the LDE is presenting your forum to different organizations. This part of the competition allows a team to share their issue while connecting with organizations and industry leaders.
Since I first started these LDEs, I can proudly say that I enjoy speaking in front of large audiences and can confidently express my opinions on ag-related topics.
I do not know who I would be without the abilities that public speaking and ag issues have given me. I have gained new skills, opportunities and friends while competing in LDEs. I urge all young members to step out of their comfort zone and try something new in FFA. You never know where it will take you!
