Orlando, Fla. – Ashley McLeod of the Laurel Hill FFA Chapter won the State FFA Prepared Public Speaking Contest. McLeod was honored at the 84th Annual State FFA Convention.
The FFA Prepared Public Speaking Event is designed to develop agricultural leadership through public speaking activities and to stimulate interest in leadership and citizenship. Participants may choose any current subject of an agricultural nature for their speeches. This may include agriscience and technology, agribusiness, agri-marketing, international agricultural relations and agricultural communications. Speeches are between six and eight minutes long and are followed with five minutes of questioning.
The top five finalists in the state received trophies from the state sponsor, Florida Association of Agricultural Educators. Other finalists in the top five were:
5th place: Jake Mayo, South Sumter
4th place: Megan Stein, Sebring Sr.
3rd place: Alexandra Morneau, Lake Butler
2nd place: Sarah Trimm, Bronson
McLeod also received a travel scholarship from the Florida Association of Agricultural Educators to help defray the cost of traveling to compete for the national title at the National FFA Convention in October.
About the Florida FFA State Convention
The annual state FFA convention is truly a week that absolutely everybody should experience. FFA members come together to celebrate the achievements won by the past and present generations of agriculturalists, while continuing to develop their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success. Honoring past and present accomplishments, FFA members, along with advisors, alumni, parents and supporters, will be inspired and motivated to take pride in our industry, serve our communities, and become leaders for the future.
About the Florida FFA Association
The Florida FFA Association is a premier youth, leadership organization with 16,000 middle and high school student members – as part of over 300 local FFA chapters across the state. FFA members participate in nearly 50 leadership and career development events each year. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.
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