ALAMOSA  – Trinidad State Dean of Instruction Jack Wiley will judge a portion of the Future Farmers of America statewide competition on June 4 at CSU-Pueblo.  High school freshman and sophomore FFA members can participate in a variety of events including public speaking, extemporaneous speaking and creed speaking.

Statewide participants have already competed at the local and district levels.  Winners at the state level can go on to a national competition.

Wiley will judge the creed speaking event.  Each participant will recite the FFA Creed, a five-paragraph statement of beliefs espoused by the organization.  Since all say the exact same words, young people are judged on their poise, presence and vocal delivery.

This event is dear to Wiley who participated in the creed competition when he was young.  He has judged creed competitions in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Colorado.

The FFA Creed:

I believe in the future of agriculture, with a faith born not of words but of deeds – achievements won by the present and past generations of agriculturists; in the promise of better days through better ways, even as the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.

I believe that to live and work on a good farm, or to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging; for I know the joys and discomforts of agricultural life and hold an inborn fondness for those associations which, even in hours of discouragement, I cannot deny.

I believe in leadership from ourselves and respect from others. I believe in my own ability to work efficiently and think clearly, with such knowledge and skill as I can secure, and in the ability of progressive agriculturists to serve our own and the public interest in producing and marketing the product of our toil.

I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining; in the life abundant and enough honest wealth to help make it so–for others as well as myself; in less need for charity and more of it when needed; in being happy myself and playing square with those whose happiness depends upon me.

I believe that American agriculture can and will hold true to the best traditions of our national life and that I can exert an influence in my home and community which will stand solid for my part in that inspiring task.