The Westin Hotel was buzzing with activity on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, when the National FFA Agricultural Issues Forum Leadership Development Event (LDE) was underway.
Held during the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo, this LDE challenges a team of three to seven FFA members to research real-world agricultural topics and present both sides of the issue to an audience through a creative presentation. According to event superintendent Stacy Vincent, it’s a great opportunity for members to practice educating adults in their communities about important issues.
“These students do not lead people to make decisions by saying, ‘You should do what we think,’” Vincent says. “They literally are just providing the facts of both sides of the issue, and they allow stakeholders to make those decisions.”
For Dixie High School FFA advisor David Gust from Utah, the event offers members more skills than just public speaking.
“The students [learn how to]think subjectively, and also to use really good reasoning skills, because we can’t come to any kind of conclusion,” Gust says. “Most importantly, I think it is helping our young people today to have a voice and know that they can make a difference.”
That voice has led to real-world impacts. Vincent says one chapter even spoke directly with their governor, influencing agricultural policy through their research. For many competitors, the value of this experience extends far beyond the presentation room.
“I’ve been with this team for two years,” says Tulare FFA member Lilyanah Ribeiro from California. “I’ve really seen how we’ve all grown individually through each other, so we lift each other up.”
