By Shelby Shank
Field Editor

Eight FFA chapters presented their Agricultural Issues Forum presentations to Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) staff to prepare for area and state Leadership Development Events competitions.

TFB staff listened to each presentation, asking questions and providing feedback and insight on each topic to strengthen students’ delivery.

The FFA Agricultural Issues Forum includes a team of three to seven students who research and examine a current agricultural issue, create a portfolio and develop and deliver a presentation that stresses both pros and cons of their selected agricultural issue. At the event competition, members use verbal skills and presentation abilities to defend their findings and answer judges’ questions.

“We invite FFA chapters each year who are participating in Ag Issues to present, allowing Farm Bureau staff to offer feedback and insights they may not have considered,” McKenna Bush, TFB Youth Outreach coordinator, said. “Leadership Development Events strengthen students’ personal and professional skills. By providing thoughtful feedback and asking intentional questions, Farm Bureau helps students refine their presentations, deepen their understanding of agriculture and foster critical thinking.”

FFA chapters meeting with TFB staff this year included Vista Ridge, Perrin, Jacksboro, Corsicana, Longview, Iowa Park, Belton and Medina Valley.

Topics that were presented at the TFB headquarters included high fence deer ranches, regulation of foreign investment in agriculture and the Make America Healthy Again campaign, among other topics.

Jacksboro FFA’s research and presented focused on meat industry trade, examining rising meat costs and the role of imported products.

“We really wanted to hit on something in the meat industry because our school is getting a new CNC meat lab, and we were wanting to learn more about the international trade of meat,” said Kylie Johnson, a junior at Jacksboro High School.

The forum simulates the study of interest in agricultural issues among agricultural students and the non-agricultural public. The contest also encourages local efforts by providing recognition for those who have demonstrated skills and competencies as a result of instruction in issues analysis.

Students on the team are assigned a pro or con position on the topic.

“We started getting a basis for our pro and con points,” Johnson said. “We then dive into research and work on writing our script. Any article we can read, any interview we find, we source that out and just try to find as much information on the topic as we can.”

The Agricultural Issues Forum presentation can be a maximum of 15 minutes in length. The judges will ask questions of all individuals of the presenting team, including the technician. Each individual is required to respond to at least one question from the judges.

Johnson and the rest of the Jacksboro FFA Ag Issues team will compete at the Area IV LDE competition with hopes of advancing to the state contest, which will be held at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville.