Hess places third in state FFA contest

By Phil Cobb | December 8, 2023 |

SKYE POURNAZARI/THE FORUM
Jerrica Hess practices her presentation during a Maryville Rotary Club meeting.

MARYVILLE, Mo. — Maryville High School senior Jerrica Hess took home third place honors in the state at the 2023 Missouri Teach Ag Public Speaking Contest on Sunday during the Missouri Farm Bureau Convention in Margaritaville.

The objective of the contest is to promote agriculture education, encourage students to consider a career in agriculture education, recruit potential teachers and emphasize the important role agriculture teachers play in the lives of students, their community and the industry.

From raising and showing animals with Northwest Technical School FFA and the effort she has put into the Ag Education on the Move program teaching local third graders about agriculture, to presenting at local agriculture events, Hess’ love of agriculture is obvious.

“It was a really big moment for me,” Hess told The Forum on the phone.

Hess said she has been excited about the opportunity to participate in this year’s contest, and also to showcase the effort her teachers have put into helping her achieve it. This year’s contest prompted Hess to speak for six to eight minutes on the subject, “Ag Educators: Building a Better Tomorrow.”

She also provided five minutes for questions and produced a manuscript of her speech.

“It’s a very proud moment that I’ve been able to achieve in my FFA career,” she said, noting that it is the first time someone from Maryville has participated in this event.

Hess said it has been an honor to be a part of the reason other students are becoming interested in speech contests.

Hess said that her state presentation — which she has been practicing in front of any local audience that was available — was the best time she’s given it.

“The judges were very personable and that gave me more confidence during my presentation,” she said.

Hess, who is vice president of the NTS FFA chapter and secretary of Missouri FFA Area 1, said that growing up in the agriculture industry has opened many doors and opportunities for her.

Last year she was able to speak at the Nodaway County Cattlemen’s Association meeting, and it helped her to see the struggles and needs of those local cattle producers.

This year she has been teaching students as part of the Ag Education on the Move program. She and co-teacher Marshall Johnson, while teaching a dairy unit, took the students on a tour of Shatto Dairy in Osborn, Missouri. Then they moved on to the swine industry and beef production, showing the similarities in each.

“We’ve been able to experience being able to see the kids actually light up with the curriculum that we’re teaching; (it) has been something that’s really cool to be a part of,” she said during last month’s celebration of the recent designation of Nodaway County as an Agri-Ready County.

Working alongside and speaking in front of local agriculture leaders has helped Hess to become even more comfortable in the field, she said.

“I can better advocate for agriculture,” Hess said. “It has helped me find my passion.”

Dylan Hoyt, Community R-6 FFA, placed first in the speech contest. Gabrielle Thompson, Forsyth FFA, placed second. State finalists included Alyssa Bargfrede, Sweet Springs FFA; Hattie Patillo, West Plains; and Lydyah Boland, Perryville.