The aroma of spices and simmering chili filled the air on Wednesday as the Greeley West agriculture students hosted their much anticipated FFA chili cookoff. This year’s event drew in several participants and attendees all eager to sample the diverse arrangement of chili recipes hand crafted by families that represent their home.
In addition to the culinary competition where winners get a golden spoon, the FFA students prepared and memorized speeches to present to all of the attendees. These student leaders took to the stage to share their experiences, discuss the importance of agriculture, and highlight the impact of the FFA program in their lives. One of those people who shared a speech last night was senior Kaitlyn Fenton who doubles as president of West’s FFA chapter.
Fenton’s speech highlighted the farm bill and how important it is to agriculture and what is going with it in the government right now. “It’s set to expire September 30, but when it expires that means a lot of nutrition programs and welfare programs will be cut out and farmers will have less money to grow and do their job. The farm bill gets renewed every five years and it was set to be renewed in 2023, but there has been a push on the renewal of it for the past two years,” Fenton said.
Fenton earned second place in the competition and will be able to move onto the district competition. District winners qualify for state.
But the event is more than just a speech and chili competition. It is a celebration of the community and a testament to the hard work and dedication of the FFA students and community. FFA advisor Ms. Alexandra Grimes mentioned, “It’s our biggest event and I think it’s just because people enjoy coming to sit and enjoy food and talk.”
Not only does this event bring the community together, it is also a good way for students to get more comfortable when going into their speech competitions and that is enhanced when more people attend. “I hope a lot of people get more comfortable with their speeches. I know for a lot of people it is terrifying which I get because I was a freshman once doing the creed speaking one which is another type of speech we do there,” Fenton stated.
As the night came to a close, participants and attendees left with full stomachs and warm hearts already looking forward to next year. The annual FFA chili cookoff is more than just a culinary contest, but a cherished event that brings the community together.
