TEMPLE - Three FFA students, each from different communities in Texas, traveled a long competitive path contending against peers throughout the state to win top honors in a statewide Soil Stewardship Public Speaking Contest. The event focused on the theme “Land Stewardship Produces a Healthy Texas.” Competitive finals were held at the 88th Texas FFA State Convention in Dallas on July 11-15, 2016.
Placing first and earning a scholarship in the amount of $3,000 was Lydia Crow from the Madisonville FFA Chapter. Crow is a 2016 graduate of Madisonville High School. Earning second place honors along with a $2,000 scholarship was Austin Clay, a member of the Sandra Day O’Connor FFA Chapter located in Helotes. Clay is a 2016 graduate of Sandra Day O’Connor High School. Third place honors along with a $1,000 scholarship went to Hannah Lloyd, a senior at Bullard High School in Bullard. Lloyd is a member of the Bullard FFA Chapter.
Texas FFA is a dynamic youth organization that makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education.
“The value of this program is that each and every student who participates becomes an ambassador for agriculture, as well as the soil and water conservation programs in Texas. Those of us involved in agriculture see that the population involved in production agriculture is declining which results in a general public unable to completely understand food and fiber production from beginning to end,” said Rickey James, President of the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Scott Buckles, Chairman of the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board added, “Through this contest we support agricultural education by providing a means for students to develop leadership skills and awareness of renewable natural resource issues and how to address them. Furthermore, the program gives students a glimpse into the future of agriculture and how agriculture benefits our state and nation.”
“The basic objective of the Soil Stewardship Public Speaking Contest is to engage students by allowing them to share their knowledge of land stewardship and its contribution to the environmental and economic health of local communities. Students are also exposed to soil and water conservation practices and how they contribute to water quality and quantity,” said Buckles.
“In order for the student to communicate healthy land stewardship practices in their speeches, they took time to gain an understanding of a conservation plan, as well as the soil and water management practices they encompass,” added James.
The annual event is sponsored by the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board and the Association of Texas Soil and Water Conservation Districts. More information on the Texas FFA Soil Stewardship Public Speaking Contest is available at http://www.tsswcb.texas.gov/infoed/publicspeaking.