Junior Bella Yoder and sophomore Jayden Gregory both competed at the FFA Area Convention Feb. 25 in Sulphur Springs. Gregory won the talent competition and Yoder became vice president of the Area six chapter.
“When I think of area convention, the word that pops into my head is celebration,” Yoder said. “It is a time when FFA members gather together and celebrate the past year while hoping for the future.”
“I was competing against bands, guitarists, drummers, bass players, vocalists, and background vocalists,” Gregory said. “I had never competed against such advanced skill, and they were good, too. Very good.”
Gregory had to sing in front of a crowd of 13,000 people with months of practice. Singing the song “Secret” and a cover called “Rise Up” by Andra Day.
“It was an eye opening and amazing experience competing against bands and singing for that crowd,” Gregory said. “Those particular people, I would sing in front of for a lifetime.”
Yoder, on the other hand, had to take a test and perform a speech. The FFA members then took a vote on whether they want her on the Area Officer team.
“We are so thankful for the endless time, work and service the retired area officers did for us.” Yoder said. “We cannot wait to do the same for Area six!”
Her duties as vice president is to take order when the president is out, coordinate work between the committees, and maintain the files for the chapters.
“We are very proud of our girls,” agriculture teacher Stephen Hindman said. “They couldn’t have done a better job and represented us any better.”
