Cloverdale's Mann earns bronze emblem in public speaking event

Thursday, November 17, 2011
Cameron Mann (left) of the Cloverdale FFA chapter captured a bronze emblem in the National FFA Extemporaneous Public Speaking Career Development during the 84th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis. Mann is congratulated by Ben LaCross, representing the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers organization.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Cameron Mann of the Cloverdale FFA Chapter in Indiana was one of 45 participants in the National FFA Extemporaneous Public Speaking Career Development Event (CDE).

Mann was awarded a bronze emblem during the competition at the 84th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis.

The top four individuals received scholarships to further their education at a post-secondary institution of their choice. The scholarships and the extemporaneous public speaking event are sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation of Washington, D.C., as a special project of the National FFA Foundation.

The National FFA Extemporaneous Public Speaking CDE is designed to recognize outstanding FFA members for their ability to prepare and present a factual speech on a specific agricultural issue in a well thought out and logical manner.

Members select one topic from a choice of categories, have 30 minutes to prepare a four- to six-minute speech, and respond to five minutes of questions following delivery.

The event, staged at the Westin Hotel in Indianapolis, is one of many educational activities at the national FFA convention in which FFA members practice the lessons learned in agricultural education classes.

Cloverdale FFA adviser Tiffany Douglass joined Mann at the contest.

The National FFA Organization, formerly known as the Future Farmers of America, is a national youth organization of 523,309 student members -- all preparing for leadership and careers in the science, business and technology of agriculture -- as part of 7,487 local FFA chapters.

The 84th National FFA Convention was held Oct. 19-22 in Indianapolis and drew more than 50,000FFA members, advisers and guests from across the country.

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