Wheeling Park High School’s FFA members showcased their leadership and public speaking skills at the regional FFA Leadership Development Event (LDE) on February 21, earning top placings in multiple categories. From delivering compelling speeches to demonstrating career-ready skills, these students made their mark in the competition.
Senior Japeth Bayes took first place in Extemporaneous Speaking, sophomore Emma McNickle won first in Prepared Speaking, and junior April Lockard placed second in Job Skills. Freshman Liv West also competed in the Freshman Creed event, contributing to the team’s overall success. For Bayes, the event was both exciting and nerve-wracking.
“In our WV FFA region, I know most of the members, and FFA has allowed me to become close with most of the people competing,” Bayes said.
“Right off the bat, I found myself talking to a bunch of people, laughing, and even playing ping-pong. After that, they pulled the competitors aside, and I began to get nervous, but that didn’t stop me from having a good time.”
His preparation involved extensive practice, including working with the Wheeling Park Speech and Debate team for extra feedback. However, a misunderstanding of the rules forced him to adjust on the fly.
“I was under the impression that I had the entirety of the prep time to research and write simultaneously, but in reality, I was only allowed 10 minutes of research,” Bayes said.
“When I heard of this, I came up with a plan—research all the facts and statistics I would need for my topic right away, and use the rest of the time to write the speech using the research I had previously done.”
McNickle, who competed in Prepared Speaking, found the waiting period before her turn to be the toughest part.
“I was fourth in line to go in for my turn, and I waited what felt like FOREVER,” McNickle said. “I tried to use this to my advantage and go through my speech at least once every time the next kid went in. It was about 20 minutes per kid, and my speech was seven minutes long.”
When the winners were announced, she was caught off guard.
“At first, I was shocked. I for sure thought I had got third or fourth place,” McNickle said. “They only announced the top three, and when I didn’t get called for third, I thought I hadn’t placed any higher. Then I got called for first, and I couldn’t believe it.”
McNickle credits Bayes for encouraging her to step outside her comfort zone.
“He’s always encouraging myself and other members to try a new event,” McNickle said. “I probably wouldn’t have done LDEs if Japeth hadn’t encouraged me to. You never know… you might just win.”
Both Bayes and McNickle agree that FFA has strengthened their public speaking abilities.
“Growing up, I was a kid who loved to talk, but FFA has really taught me how to talk,” Bayes said. “I constantly find myself in situations where the ability to speak publicly comes in handy.”
McNickle added that it has helped her organize her thoughts in a way that resonates with an audience.
“When I’m really passionate about something (like FFA), I think I get a little chaotic when speaking because I just want to tell you all about it,” McNickle said.
“I’ve never really had an issue speaking in front of a crowd, but FFA has really taught me how to collect my thoughts and organize them in an order that’s understandable and easy for everybody to relate to.”
For students interested in competing in LDEs, Bayes and McNickle stress the importance of preparation and confidence.
“My advice to any that would want to compete at LDEs in the future would be to practice. There is no world where you can practice enough, and that is especially true when it comes to speaking,” Bayes said.
McNickle encourages competitors to take their time and seek guidance when needed.
“The more you stop and think about the speech you’re writing, the words you’re speaking, or the topic you’re choosing, the more confident you’ll feel competing with it,” McNickle said. “And don’t be afraid to ask for help; it’s not embarrassing or ‘dumb.’”
With their regional success behind them, Wheeling Park’s FFA competitors are ready to take on the upcoming state convention and continue showcasing their skills.
