By Julie Tomascik
Editor

Eleven students were named district winners and received $1,500 scholarships as part of the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) Free Enterprise Speech Contest. They will now advance to the state competition.

This year’s Free Enterprise Speech Contest was held virtually, and students of TFB member-families delivered a speech about the advantages of the free enterprise system and constitutional government.

“Through this contest, high school students learn more about our economy and our country, as well as how to communicate effectively, even when presenting virtually,” Whit Weems, TFB director of Organization Division, said. “These are skills that will serve them well in high school, college and in their future careers.”

Contestants are judged on speech organization, language, use of notes, persuasiveness and application of the topic in the speech.

Students must participate in TFB’s annual Thrive experience, part of the new Student Success Series, which was also virtual this year, to be eligible to participate in the Free Enterprise Speech contest.

The 2021 district winners include:

  • District 1: Carson Smith, Hall County
  • District 2: A.J. Kendrick, Lubbock County
  • District 3: Conner Schroeder, Archer County
  • District 4: Maggie DeLaCerda, Denton County
  • District 6: Brock Braden, Midland County
  • District 7: Benjamin Flanagan, Runnels County
  • District 8: Bryli Wilson, Lampasas County
  • District 9: William “Joshua” Jones, Rusk County
  • District 10:Sydney Blair, Atascosa County
  • District 12: Logan James, Wilson County
  • District 13: Lily Ford, Hidalgo County

They will compete in the contest finals, which will be held in 2022. Additional contest details will be announced next year.

Four finalists at the state level will receive additional funding to amount to $2,000 each, including the district scholarship. The state runner-up’s scholarship will increase to $3,000, and the state winner’s scholarship is worth $6,000 total.

“The founding principles of private property and free enterprise are valued by Farm Bureau, and we want to inspire young people with those same principles,” Weems said. “The contest builds on these concepts learned in the Thrive experience, helping students learn about leadership and government topics.”

For more information on youth activities and opportunities, visit https://texasfarmbureau.org/youth or email youthactivities@txfb.org.