On November 14, the Akins FFA Chapter attended the Start District FFA Leadership Development Events, known as LDEs. These contests are designed to test the students’ leadership and presentation skills.

Some of the categories in which the students participated were broadcasting, mock FFA meetings using parliamentary procedure, teaching agricultural skills, and even reciting the FFA Creed in English and Spanish. In the words of Brandon Callis, one of the FFA teachers, their teams swept in the district competition. Eleven teams were brought, and seven advanced to the Area XII FFA contest. If these teams place in the top 2, they will advance to the state level.

The teams who went to the Area contest were Greenhand Spanish Creed, Senior Spanish Creed, Greenhand Chapter Conducting, Job Interview, Ag Issues, Greenhand Skills, and Greenhand Quiz.

On Saturday, November 23. Mr. Brandon Callis said, “[The teams] went up against the best teams from over 100 schools from Austin to College Station and everywhere in between”. None of the teams qualified to state, yet they got three banners, and some teams already have plans for next year.

The teams/students who won the banners were Melany Serrano, who placed third in Senior Spanish Creed Speaking, Lily Gonzalez-Espinal who placed fifth in Job Interview, and the team Greenhand Quiz who placed fifth.

 (Greenhand is a first-year FFA member and Senior means any student who is not Greenhand) 

On another note, the FFA stock raisers went to some shows and won several awards in different categories. Only the pig, sheep, and goat raisers have shown their animals this semester. However, this ongoing week Ms. G and Ms. Dorth have received the rabbits for the students who have signed up to raise these cute animals.