Months of preparation has led up to this moment. A week from the FFA Leadership Development Event competition, better known as an LDE, has the participants working hard in the final week of practice. March 16 marks the day that these participants have been waiting for. The day of the competition. The day to put their hard work to the test.  

     Practice is a crucial part of the preparation process. “During LDE practice we prepare our speeches and help each other practice presenting so we have an idea when going into the actual presentation,” says junior Allyson Knott. Practice is more than just running through your speech multiple times. 

    “Practice helps me prepare by giving me tips for creating my speech and calms my nerves,” says sophomore Keegan Huss. Practice also gives the competitors a chance to, “gain confidence,” says sophomore Sophie Reinert.

     Each competitor picked a different topic to talk about. “I’m looking forward to sharing my speech on The News VS Farming where I’ll be showing how the news downfalls farmers and should be showing the hard work and respect towards farmers,” says Knott. Sophie Reinert wrote a speech about, “Integrating Agriculture Curriculum Across America,” Meanwhile Huss chose to write a speech on, “urbanization and the effects it has on farming.”

      This competition isn’t just about delivering a speech, it offers, “a new experience,” and a chance at “meeting new people,” says Reinert. This competition also brings a horde of worries for the competitors. “I’m most worried about stuttering during competition,” says Huss. Each competitor is preparing for the competition in their own ways. Reinert says, “I am making flash cards,” whereas Huss says she is, “reading my speech every day.”

     On March 16, the competitors traveled to  Carroll County Career and Technical Center where they performed their speeches in front of a panel of judges. At the award ceremony, all North Harford contestants placed. In the junior prepared speaking division, Sophie Reinert, Keegan Huss, Katherine Vanarsdale and Samantha Hawk all placed gold. In the senior prepared speaking division, Waverly Iriate and Ryan Layman placed gold, while Allyson Knott placed silver. 

      In the junior extemporaneous speaking division Grayson Whaley and Nina Fields both placed gold. In the senior extemporaneous speaking division Cole Hellwig, Kalyna Lloyd, Waverly Iriarte and James Ortt all placed gold. While Calvin Rose placed silver and Clayton McGraw placed bronze. All of the contestants who placed gold will continue onto the state level, representing region four.