On Dec. 3, 2025 Arroyo Grande High School (AGHS) hosted eight schools for their annual Future Farmes of America (FFA) speaking competition. Participating schools were; Nipomo High School, Santa Maria High School, Saint Joseph’s High School, Righetti High School, Lompoc High School, Santa Ynez High School, New Cuyama High School, and Pioneer Valley High School. Each school’s FFA program is called a chapter.
FFA is a nationwide program that educates high school students on agricultural topics. The competitions vary per grade level, strengthening knowledge in agriculture as well as communication.
“[The FFA speaking event] really helps [students] with leadership skills. It helps them with their public speaking, it helps them create growth and collaboration with others, and it also teaches them perseverance,” AG Science teacher and FFA Advisor Lacee Holloway said.
Competitions are a prerequisite for showing an animal at the County Fair.
Each event is specific to the corresponding grade level. Freshmen participate in Creed, where they memorize a speech about working hard and agriculture. Creed is divided into two parts, English and Spanish. Spanish Creed is for native Spanish speakers, in which they recite the FFA Creed in Spanish. The Spanish Creed is open to any native Spanish speaker, not just freshmen.
Melanie Castillo Leyva (‘26) is President of the FFA Chapter at Santa Maria High School, she has been in FFA since freshman year, and is a native Spanish speaker.
“[The Spanish Creed is] basically FFA member beliefs that you kind of recite. It’s 5 paragraphs, and the judges then ask you sets of questions regarding FFA and agriculture,” Castillo Leyva said.
Sophomores compete in Impromptu where they are given short speeches on agricultural topics and have little time to respond. Juniors and Seniors have a choice between a mock job interview and an extemporaneous. The job interview is meant to enhance the student’s ability to think on the spot. Extemporaneous is where speakers have 30 minutes to answer questions and prepare to give a 4-6 minute speech, forcing them to think quickly while demonstrating knowledge on agricultural topics.
Noah Bogoshian (’26) is the President of the FFA Chapter at AGHS and has been in FFA all of high school.
“If you want to be an officer in the chapter, you have to use your leadership skills. You have to say speeches in front of people,” Bogoshian (‘26) said.
The FFA speaking event was a showcase of student’s leadership skills, public speaking abilities and knowledge on agricultural topics.
Some of AGHS’s students placed in the top 5 for their select event:
Noah Bogoshian (‘26) placed 3rd for Extemporaneous.
Madison Aanerud (‘26) placed 5th for Job Interview.
Skyler Ferguson (‘28) placed 4th for Impromptu.
Kenley Prickett (‘29) placed 5th for Creed.
