Jr. FFA Chapter member, Anna Potter, earned an outstanding first-place finish at the Central Region Substates Leadership Development Event (LDE) in the Jr. Prepared Public Speaking competition, held on Saturday, March 21st at Cato-Meridian CSD.
This event represents the second of three levels of competition, making this achievement especially significant. Competing against hundreds of students from across the region, Anna demonstrated exceptional communication skills, confidence, and preparation.
With this win, she advances to the next level and will compete against the top six speakers in the state at the New York State FFA Convention this May 2026 in Buffalo, NY.
This is a tremendous accomplishment, and we are incredibly proud of her hard work and dedication. Best of luck as she prepares for the state competition!
We would like to share the following Q&A with Ms. Potter as she prepares for the New York State FFA Convention:
What does moving on to states mean to you?
I think it’s an amazing accomplishment. I’ve always enjoyed public speaking, and winning at sub-states was really great. My mind was blown! I hope to perform just as well at the state competition.
What motivates you as a member of Jr. FFA?
Ms. Gifford is amazing, and FFFA is really fun; I enjoy every aspect of it. I especially enjoy that it’s linked to agriculture. I was very excited to move up to sixth grade and join Junior FFA. My family has a dairy farm and a maple business, and we love sharing our story with the program. We are excited that FFA is available at school.
What do you hope to take from the state experience?
I hope to get a better understanding of leadership development at FFA and how it can help me become a better public speaker. I am fortunate to have had former experience through 4-H, and I look forward to building on that.