By Megan Deist

As a non-member of FFA, I have often wondered what work goes into contests and what exactly goes on at contests. A long time member of FFA, senior Allison Blomme, took some time to fill me in about an upcoming contest: District FFA.
Megan: What do you do at District FFA?
Allison: “It is kind of like a speech contest, except different events and different rules.”
Megan: Do you have cows at District FFA?
Allison: “No, but we do have that at livestock judging.”
Megan: How do you prepare for District FFA?
Allison: “It depends on your event. For me, I do extemporaneous speaking so I already have gathered information going into Districts. When I get there, I have to sit in a large room without technology with the rest of the District contestants. We wait until our name is called and get escorted into the room where we prepare our speech. I have half an hour to come up with a 4-6 minute speech on one of five agriculture topics they give me. Then, after the half hour I get taken into a different room to give my speech. After my speech, each of the three judges will ask me a question about my speech.”
Megan: Do you get nervous?
Allison: “Yes. Everybody gets nervous. Ideally you find somebody in your event in the holding room that helps with the nervousness and not think too much about your speech. Extemporaneous can be the most nerve-racking.”
Megan: What is the weirdest thing about District FFA?
Allison: “While waiting to be called to prepare your speech, you cannot leave the room. You have to ask to be escorted to the restroom. That’s because they don’t want the judge’s questions leaked to contestants.”
Blomme and the rest of the FFA team will head to Dension High School for the District Contest on March 8.
Megan: What do you do at District FFA?
Allison: “It is kind of like a speech contest, except different events and different rules.”
Megan: Do you have cows at District FFA?
Allison: “No, but we do have that at livestock judging.”
Megan: How do you prepare for District FFA?
Allison: “It depends on your event. For me, I do extemporaneous speaking so I already have gathered information going into Districts. When I get there, I have to sit in a large room without technology with the rest of the District contestants. We wait until our name is called and get escorted into the room where we prepare our speech. I have half an hour to come up with a 4-6 minute speech on one of five agriculture topics they give me. Then, after the half hour I get taken into a different room to give my speech. After my speech, each of the three judges will ask me a question about my speech.”
Megan: Do you get nervous?
Allison: “Yes. Everybody gets nervous. Ideally you find somebody in your event in the holding room that helps with the nervousness and not think too much about your speech. Extemporaneous can be the most nerve-racking.”
Megan: What is the weirdest thing about District FFA?
Allison: “While waiting to be called to prepare your speech, you cannot leave the room. You have to ask to be escorted to the restroom. That’s because they don’t want the judge’s questions leaked to contestants.”
Blomme and the rest of the FFA team will head to Dension High School for the District Contest on March 8.