Landon Stelling Punches Ticket to State FFA
FFA Leadership Development Events develop college and career readiness skills and serve as
an outgrowth of instruction in the agricultural education classroom for FFA members in grades 7
to 12. Through LDEs, participating FFA members are challenged to develop critical thinking
skills and effective decision-making skills, foster teamwork and promote communication while
recognizing the value of ethical competition and individual achievement. The District IV FFA
Leadership Development Event Competition was held at Crofton High School on Wednesday,
December 11th, 2019. Fifteen students grades 8-12 from the Osmond FFA Chapter competed
in six different contests.
Creed Speaking was one of the earliest Leadership Development Events to be established. In
this event, FFA members recite the National FFA Creed to develop public speaking skills and
self-confidence. Freshmen, Robert Aschoff and Zachary Reikofski represented the Osmond
FFA Chapter in this event, receiving purple and blue ribbons respectively.
During the Prepared Public Speaking Leadership Development Event (LDE), students research
an agriculture-related topic of interest; put together a creative, informative speech; and then
deliver the six to eight-minute speech to a panel of judges, who score the student based on the
speech’s content, composition, and delivery. This year Lexi Beacom and Madeline Huwaldt
competed in the Senior Public Speaking event both receiving blue ribbons. In the Cooperative
Speaking event, Mason Gansebom received the 3rd place purple ribbon and is the alternate for
the state competition in April, while Ryan Schmit received 4th place and a purple ribbon.
The Agricultural Demonstration LDE is a team event consisting of 3-5 members who perform an
actual demonstration of an agricultural skill including anything in the Agricultural Science and
Technology curriculum using effective public speaking and communication methods. Two teams
from Osmond competed in this event. The team of Ryan Schmit, Connor Gutz, Blake Bahr, and
Zach Huwaldt prepared a demonstration on how to test the quality of well water; while the team
of Caden Wingert, Reese Hanna, and Logan Stelling prepared a demonstration on how to
change the seed plates in a planter. The water quality demonstration received a blue ribbon.
The seed plates demonstration received a red ribbon.
The Junior High People in Agriculture Pathways Poster event is designed to develop inquiry and
communication skills while also providing an understanding and awareness of careers in
agriculture for students in the 7th and 8th grades. This year 8th grade member Matthew
Alderson competed in the event receiving a purple ribbon.
Participants in the National FFA Employment Skills Leadership Development Event (LDE) get a
leg up on their future careers by developing the skills needed to seek employment in the
industry of agriculture. Landon Stelling and Zachary Alderson represented Osmond in the
competition. Both participants had to create a resume, cover letter, and complete an actual job
application before their interviews. Zachary Alderson received 3rd place, purple ribbon and is
the alternate for the state competition, while Landon Stelling won the contest and will be
competing at the State Convention in April. Congratulations to Landon on qualifying for the
State Competition!