GRANTS, NM – The Grants FFA members competed in their first competition of the year on October 26. The FFA members traveled to Farmington to participate in the New Mexico FFA District I Leadership Development Events (LDEs). This is the first time that Grants FFA has competed in any competitive event since rechartering earlier this year.
LDEs are competitive events that focus on building up student leadership, personal growth, and career readiness skills. The Grants FFA members competed in three different LDEs during the competition which include Employment Skills, Extemporaneous Public Speaking, and Jr. High Illustrated Talk. Students were coached by the FFA advisors, Mr. Amador Gonzales and Mr. Aaron Sarracino. Arianna Spidle has qualified to compete in the State Employment Skills LDE at the New Mexico FFA State Convention in June. Harry Lee, III has qualified to compete in the State Jr. High LDEs at the New Mexico FFA Leadership Conference in February.
Members who competed are: Employment Skills Students in grades 10-12 prepare a resume, cover letter, and complete an application for a job of their choosing with an agriculture focus and interview for said job with a panel of interviewers.
• Karyssa Cook (10)
• Shelbie Martinez (12)
• Tonee Slockish (12)
• Brandon Small (12)
• Arianna Spidle (12) – 2nd Place & State Qualifier
Extemporaneous Public Speaking Students in grades 10-12 draw a topic out of a hat and are given 30 minutes to write a 4-6 minute speech on that topic and immediately present it to a panel of judges and answer questions related to their topic.
• Brandon Small (12) Jr. High Illustrated Talk Members in the Jr. High level prepare a visual presentation on an agricultural topic and present it in front of a panel of judges and answer questions on their presentation.
• Harry Lee, III (8) – 1st Place (District Champion) & State Qualifier