JEFFERSONVILLE – Two members of Sullivan West’s chapter of the Future Farmers of America (FFA) visited the Town of Callicoon meeting on Monday, April 13, to present prepared speeches about agriculture. The presentation was a practice run for Tessa Hyzer and Allison McCarthy, who will be the first members of the local chapter to compete at the state-level FFA leadership contest, a competition that evaluates a member’s public speaking ability and farming knowledge.

The students were accompanied by their teacher Mr. Padraic McCarthy, who helped expand the chapter’s participation to 60 members over the last five years. McCarthy said the FFA, a national organization of over a million members in all 50 states, is the “premier youth leadership organization in the country.”

Padraic said Tessa and Allison had successfully passed FFA leadership contests at the local, district, and substate level, and will now make the maiden voyage to the state competition. “They’re in the top six public speakers in their respective contests,” said Padraic, who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to present to the board. “Now that they are going to the state level, should they place first, they’ll be moving on to the national level, and that’s pretty serious.” 

Padraic explained that the two young farm scholars were dressed in the FFA uniform, a corduroy jacket over a dress shirt and tie, to look professional when competing. “When they’re out in the world, they look pretty sharp,” said Padraic. 

Hyzer recited The FFA Creed, written by Erwin Milton Tiffany in 1928 and adopted by the FFA as its official creed in 1930. The five-paragraph speech emphasized a proactive and business-minded approach to farming with a focus on leadership, autonomy, and community. 

McCarthy delivered an original eight-minute speech that was more elaborate and explored the topic of invasive species and their effects on vegetation. “Our forests are under attack,” said McCarthy. “Forest pests account for over 50% of all trees lost in the United States. And according to the US Forest Service, there are over 10.5 million acres of forestland dead or dying due to diseases of insects.” McCarthy said there were over 450 invasive species of insects and forest pathogens that damage trees throughout the United States.

“In my future, I plan to be a forest ranger,” proclaimed McCarthy. “It will be my job to help protect state forests, which includes protecting them from forest pests. But it won’t just be up to me; it will be up to all of us to help prevent the spread of these forest pests and to preserve our nation’s forests for generations to come.”

After Hyzer’s and McCarthy’s presentations, Town Supervisor Tom Bose said, “Very informative speech, that was amazing.” He praised the efforts of their parents and said, “Good luck, congratulations, and we’re very proud of you.”