Eight Sulphur Springs FFA students, left to right, Rebecca Blakemore, Colby Parker, Mike Law,
Kasey Blezinger, Morgan Lampp, Jace Orren, Ashley Sells, and (not pictured) Danielle Johnson, make up
the Agricultural Issues Forum Team, that garnered first place at District Competition, and have
high hopes of advancing to State Competition, by winning the Area round.
Sulphur Springs FFA Students
to Compete at Area Competition, Saturday
by: Bobby McDonald
Sulphur Springs FFA students, Colby Parker, Mike Law, and Kasey Blezinger, will be taking
the stance "against" Food Aid for under-developed countries, in Saturday's competition.
For nineteen Sulphur Springs FFA members, it's been a week of practice, polishing speaking skills, studying material, and making certain that their knowledge of subject matter is ready. They are headed to the Area FFA Contest, on Saturday, November 21st. Students had to place either first or second at District competition, in order to advance to the Area round. "We're taking an Agricultural Forums Team, two Quiz Teams, a Job Interview participant, and a Greenhand Skills Team," advised Sulphur Springs Vocational Agriculture Teacher, Dannie Johnson. "All the students have been working hard and getting their presentations 'fine-tuned' for Saturday's competition. You've got to win your category to advance to State competition!"
Vocational Agriculture Teacher, Amber Norris, has served as the mentor and coach for the Agricultural Issues Forum Team, that is comprised of Morgan Lampp, Mike Law, Jace Orren, Kasey Blezinger, Colby Parker, Ashley Sells, Rebecca Blakemore, and Danielle Johnson. The eight youth have selected a top agricultural issue, learned all about it, and present a 15 minute debate, with students selecting either a "pro" or "con" stance, on the subject. "These students have become very, very passionate about their subject," advised Norris. "They've selected the subject of 'Food Aid' programs and the U.S. Government's involvement in sending food to other nations, with the title of their presentation being ' Food Aid or Band-Aide,' for the competition. Students present very convincing arguments for the issue and against the issue of offering food aid to other nations!"
In a "trial run" of their presentation, on Thursday afternoon, in the high school Vocational Agriculture Building, students presented their debate to a group of friends, supporters, and parents, as they continued their practice for Area competition.
"It's ridiculous for our country to send a dollar's worth of food to another nation, when it costs us $2.60 to get it shipped to that country," stated Mike Law. "We're going in the hole and not helping anyone!"
Meanwhile, as a "pro" argument, student Morgan Lampp, asked the question, "Full bellies and properly nourished children, in under-developed countries make for friendly allies for this nation, and is the humanitarian thing for us to do, isn't it?"
Students, Morgan Lampp, Jace Orren, and Ashley Sells, will be taking the "pro" Food Aid
position, for argument, in Saturday's Area competition.
Students presented a number of arguments both for and against offering food aid to other countries and helping to stabilize our own agricultural marketing system in the U.S., with surplus food supplies.
"But, it's nations like The Philippines, that take our food aid, use their own fields to grow floriculture and sell them back to us," countered Law.
"Food For Peace, was originated in the 1950's, to help repair 'war torn' Italy, Europe, and Japan, as a humanitarian effort, following WWII," stated student, Jace Orren. "And, the program offered a way to use surplus agricultural products in the U.S. and stabilize markets for the farmer."
"We're not saying it's a perfect program," expresses students in summation. "But, it has both passionate aspects for and against the issue, and we'll let the judges decide which stance they want to take, on Saturday. Hopefully, they'll be sending us to State Competition, to let those judges hear our presentation!"
Sulphur Springs FFA student, Rebecca Blakemore, offers a summation of the valid points
that both sides of the argument present, as the passionate debate is concluded. Danielle Johnson,
(not pictured) is in-charge of all props, slides, and visual aids for the presentation.
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