Sulphur Springs FFA, Ag Issues Team members, left to right, Harley Wilburn, Colton Froneberger, Kasey Blessinger,
Jessica Cowley, Colby Parker, Talon Bell, and Tiphani Gatlin work on their presentation for the upcoming November 12th
Area competition.

 

Sulphur Springs FFA Ag Issues Team
Discusses Pros & Cons of Animal Antibiotic Use

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

For seven Sulphur Springs FFA students, it's been a "short course" in the use of antibiotics in the treatment and grown of food producing animals, as they prepare for the upcoming Area FFA Contest, on November 12. The students, three debating the pros of using therapeutic antibiotics in raising animals, versus three for the ban on using certain antibiotics for use in animal agriculture, will have student Jessica Cowley serving as their moderator, as they prepare the material and get prepared to answer questions regarding the issues. "It's a timely subject and one that requires the students to be 'on top' of the issues," expressed Sulphur Springs Vocational Agriculture Teacher, Amber Norris. "We've selected some of our brightest students to debate the issues and to become familiar with the HR-1549 and Senate #619 Bills that have been introduced into the U.S. Congress.

Students debate the safety of using therapeutic antibiotics in the feed of producing animals, to prevent diseases. The bill calls for the ban on six antibiotics from use in animal agriculture, that are used to fight bacteria in human treatment. Talon Bell, defends using the low-levels of antibiotics, as he sites a ban on such antibiotics in the European Agricultural Commonwealth, that had disastrous effects to animal agriculture. Meanwhile, others site health concerns from eating meat from animals that have been reared, using the low-level antibiotics as disease preventatives.

 

 

 

 

Sulphur Springs FFA Ag Issues Team members in their "official" FFA Dress, as they'll make their presentation on
November 12th for Area Contest.

 

 

"We've got to convince the judges that we know all about the effects of using antibiotics in animal production," expressed Cowley, as she served as the moderator for the team. "We'll discuss the issues both for and against using the antibiotics and then answer a number of questions about the issues, scoring points for our presentation and ability to answer questions."

On Tuesday afternoon, the FFA Team presented their presentation to a number of local individuals, who critiqued their points, asked questions in a mock session similar to what they  will experience at contest, and provided advice about their overall presentation.

"We have some more work to do, in the next 10 days, but the students are learning their parts, and practicing making quick decisions concerning the question phase of the contest," expressed Norris. "These students are able to 'think on their feet' and answer the hard questions regarding the issues.

 

Best of Luck to the
Sulphur Springs FFA Ag Issues Team!!!

 

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