AINSWORTH, NE – On Wednesday, December 15 FFA Chapters from District X congregated with many of their members to compete in the annual Leadership Skills Event. The Leadership Skills Event is held at the district and state level to promote opportunities for FFA members to develop skills in leadership, cooperation, and teamwork, as well as building a broader understanding of the abilities necessary for today’s agricultural leaders. The district champion and district runner-up both qualify for state competition in April during the State FFA Convention. The summaries and results the Elgin FFA members are as follows:
Creed Speaking
The event is open to first year FFA members in good standing who are enrolled in their first year of agricultural education during one or both semesters of the school year, are in the ninth grade. The objective of the contest is to develop the ability of interpretation and self expression of beginning FFA members. The District Champion and State Qualifier was Brett Kinney from the Elgin FFA, District Runner-up was Jacob Goldfuss of the O’Neill FFA Chapter Cooperative Speaking:
The event is open to all high school FFA members who are enrolled in an agricultural education class in order to develop the ability of FFA members to competently express themselves and to provide an educational opportunity to learn about the cooperative method of doing business. District Champion was Alix Mashino of the West Boyd FFA Chapter with the Runner-up being Jessica Bartak from Ainsworth FFA. The third and fourth place cooperative speakers were Jordan Paxton and Ashlyn DeWald from Stuart, and Elgin respectively.
Extemporaneous Speaking
The event is open to all high school FFA members who are enrolled in an agricultural education class interested in developing the ability to express themselves on a given subject without having prepared or rehearsed its content in advance. Twelve topics shall be prepared by the State FFA Staff. Topics will be from the following four areas: Agriscience and Technology; Urban Agriculture; Food and Fiber Systems; or Agrimarketing and International Agricultural Relations. Being crowned as District Champion was Vance Heyer of the Ainsworth FFA Chapter, Zach Kunz of the Stuart FFA Chapter was named District Runner-up. Breiann Grosserode of Elgin earned a red ribbon.
Employment Skills
In an effort to provide FFA members the opportunity to demonstrate their ability in completing a job application form, writing a letter of application, preparing a resume, interviewing, and completing a follow-up letter the National, State, and District FFA promote the Job Interview or Employment Skills competition. The District Champion was Lynnsey Riha of the West Boyd FFA Chapter, with Ben Kaup of the Stuart FFA Chapter being the District Runner-up and also a state qualifier. Kassidy Paxton of theStuart FFA Chapter placed third and Jacob Seier placed fourth for the Elgin FFA Chapter.
Junior Public Speaking
For members in ninth or tenth grade as an effort to develop the ability to competently express themselves as they assume the responsibilities of agricultural leadership. Conner Kozisek of the Ainsworth FFA Chapter was crowned the District X Champion and state qualifier with Juliana Dunn of the Elgin FFA Chapter also qualifying for state competition as the runner-up. Placing third from the West Boyd FFA Chapter was Joslyn Roth while Alyssa Kinning also of the Ainsworth FFA placing fourth.
Public Speaking
In a national level contest designed to enhance leadership skills through confidence, speaking ability, and current agricultural research the FFA promotes the Public Speaking Contest to all members. Crowned as District Champion was Angela Haun of the West Boyd FFA Chapter, the District Runner-up was Abigael Olson of the West Holt FFA Chapter, both individuals will represent their chapter and District X at state competition in April. AJ Braband of Elgin earned a red ribbon.
Natural Resources
Another contest designed To develop competent speaking abilities within Nebraska FFA members and to increase the member’s appreciation and knowledge of natural resources management. The top two speakers representing District X and their FFA Chapters at the state competition are Kristen Reiman of the West Boyd FFA Chapter and Kylie Schwindt of the Ainsworth FFA Chapter earning Champion and District Champion honors respectively. Placing third was Tasha Lechtenberg and Jewel Krieger both of the O’Neill FFA Chapter.
Agricultural Demonstration
This contest was designated in order to develop the ability of FFA members to accurately explain a process through demonstration of the skills required while making a verbal presentation. To emphasize the importance of agricultural technology and the skills required for a changing industry. The top team was the Stuart FFA Chapter with their presentation on underground sprinkler systems followed by the West Boyd FFA Chapter and their presentation on sprayer calibration. The third and fourth place teams were the Ainsworth and Valentine Chapters respectively. The Elgin FFA Chapter had two Ag demo teams who both received blue ribbons. They were Alex Dierks, Devon Baum, Tyler Childers and Lee Bartak (Freeze branding) and Grant Beckman, Tre Henkenious, Michael Braband, and Justine Meis (Wheel bearings).
Junior Parliamentary Procedure
An age-old contest that has rigor and relevance as it develops the ability of freshman and sophomore FFA members to improve their techniques in conduct of meetings by employing correct parliamentary law through the transaction of parliamentary abilities and answering questions on parliamentary procedure. Stuart FFA Chapter had the top team followed by the Ainsworth team. Both teams will enter into state competition in April at the State FFA Convention. O’Neill FFA placed third and the Elgin FFA team placed fourth.
Senior Parliamentary Law
Perhaps one of the more valuable contests in a high school students career may be the parliamentary procedure contests, as it teaches FFA members to be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of parliamentary procedure to conduct an orderly/efficient meeting.
2. Transact business and present logical, realistic, and convincing discussion.
3. Record complete and accurate minutes. The Stuart team was crowned District Champion with the West Boyd FFA Chapter being named the District Runner-up. Ainsworth Red team placed third in the competition and West Holt garnished the fourth place finish.
The Stuart FFA Chapter narrowly won the Sweepstakes plaque with West Boyd earning the Runner-up plaque. Ainsworth was third and Elgin was fourth. The District X FFA Chapter would like to thank all of the judges, sponsors, and the Ainsworth Community Schools for their time and efforts in making the 2010 version of the Leadership Skills Event a very educational and memorable event for all FFA members.
