Over 75% of Americans are affected by glossophobia — the fear of public speaking. Yet while this fear stops many, FFA members in their blue jackets use it as fuel to grow into confident leaders.
FFA members compete in events year-round that help them master communication skills. At the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo, the Student Showcase: Environmental Science and Natural Resources event gave members the chance to receive professional feedback from industry leaders across the country.
Shaye Siegel, a marketing representative for John Deere, served as a panelist for the event. Her role was to listen to members present their National FFA Agriscience Fair projects and provide constructive advice. “It’s [an opportunity] where chapters can come and showcase projects they’re doing within their communities. And then the Agriscience Fair finalists for the national stage can come and present their projects,” Siegel says.
Olivia Hogg from the LaGrange FFA Chapter says she built confidence through events like the Creed Speaking Leadership Development Event (LDE). “I’m definitely a lot better. I don’t freak out as much, but it definitely helps with practice,” she says. “I’ll look in the mirror and practice in the mirror and then move on to talking in front of people I know.”
For Aubrey Trammell of the South Putnam FFA Chapter in Indiana, public speaking once felt impossible. “I was really shy and awkward…my ag advisor told me I had to do [Creed Speaking] and I cried because I was very scared, but I did Creed,” she says. Now, she has found her love for speaking about the things she’s passionate about.
Members like Stone Stauch of the South Putnam FFA Chapter in Indiana learn facilitation through the FFA public speaking training. “If we can have something that grabs people’s attention…they’re going to look at the [stress ball] and remember, oh yeah, that came from this invasive tree presentation,” Stauch says.
Younger members like Graham Cox and Aubrey Hill, both freshman from the Weatherford FFA Chapter in Texas, are also gaining early experience through events like the Extemporaneous Public Speaking LDE and Agriscience Fair presentations. “I definitely do have a lot of nerves so I was really trying to get myself out of the little box I was putting myself in,” Hill says.
“All of the students we saw today were well prepared…you could definitely tell they belonged at Nationals,” Siegel concludes.
Our members prove that FFA provides one of the most powerful tools for personal growth: the chance to find your voice.
