This summer, Tomlin Middle School student and FFA President Emma Poole recited the Future Farmers of America creed at a statewide contest in front of 4,000 people.
It was Emma’s second time taking the stage. As a seventh-grader, she recited the creed and took second place in the state — a major honor, as the contest was originally geared toward high school students.
This year, Emma bested herself. She took first place in the competition and will go on to participate in the Creed Competition at the 2016 National FFA Convention and Expo in October. The convention is being held in Indianapolis.
Winning the Creed Contest at the state level is one of two ways a middle school FFA student can go on to compete at the national level. The other opportunity is through AgriScience.
“They just started allowing middle schools to compete in the Creed Contests five or six years ago,” Jason Steward, Emma’s FFA advisor at Tomlin, said. “(Emma) was the first middle-schooler to win Creed for our area.”
“I’m the only person from the whole state who gets to do the creed (at nationals),” Emma said.
Though the national convention isn’t until mid-October, Emma is preparing for the next phase of the competition.
A Love for Agriculture
Emma is a freshman at Durant High School, where she plans to continue to be involved in FFA. She’s been a member of the organization since starting at Tomlin as a sixth-grader.
“My dad was in FFA at Tomlin and Plant City High School,” Emma said. “My poppa was in FFA back when Turkey Creek was a high school. I’ve had farms in my family … I grew up seeing agriculture and how it benefits us.”
Since she first joined FFA three years ago, Emma has tried everything. She started off doing vegetable judging and has dabbled in forestry, dairy selection, livestock and poultry judging and parliamentary procedure.
“I want to do them all,” Emma said.
But reciting the creed and answering agriculture-related questions has been one of her favorite experiences.
“I can really relate to some of the things that the creed says,” Emma said. “I like what it says about everyone benefitting from agriculture.”
Emma has been practicing the creed and agricultural questions with Steward since she went to the state convention the first time. She’s grateful for the extra year she had to practice.
“I’m so excited,” Emma said. “I’ve been excited about it for two years now. I’m so glad I didn’t win last year, because I’ve gained so much maturity and experience.”
Though she’s finished her days at Tomlin, Emma is still getting training and practice from Steward.
“I promised her two years ago that if she wanted to do creed, I would go to nationals with her,” Steward said.
Emma said Steward’s encouragement was a big part of what helped her earn the state title. Emma practiced the creed with Steward around three times per week and had a total of about 150 practices.
“I am generally positive, but sometimes lose vision,” Emma said. “He encourages me. He’s just always been there for me to push me on, no matter how hard it was. I’m glad I got to have him as an advisor.”
Former National Creed Contest winner and Florida Strawberry Festival Media Representative Lauren McNair also coached Emma.
“She’s very supportive and kind and a great coach,” Emma’s mother, Gwen Poole, said.
Regardless of how things go at nationals, Emma has big plans for the rest of her FFA career. She was recently elected to serve the Hillsborough County FFA as a chaplain and hopes to one day become a national officer.
“I would love to do that,” Emma said. “They’re amazing people. I want to be like them someday.”
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.