In sixth grade, Haley Riley quivered in her boots at the mere thought of public speaking.
Today, she is the vice president of Durant High School’s Future Farmers of America chapter, and has competed in public speaking at the local, district and state levels.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” Haley said.
Now a junior in high school, the formerly shy student has discovered a love of public speaking.
“I love having a crowd of people in the room and looking them in the eye,” Haley said. “It’s amazing, the positive energy in the room.”
Haley hopes to attend the FFA’s Washington Leadership Conference in the nation’s capital in the summer of 2016. But to get there, she needs to raise $1,800 for her trip.
Haley did not ask her parents for money to attend. Instead, she is focused on spending the next year raising the money on her own. She has set up a GoEnnounce account online. But she hopes she will earn enough from her upcoming projects at next year’s Florida Strawberry Festival. Any profits will be put towards her conference fund.
As a member of FFA, Haley is not just focused on public speaking. She has been taught about plant identification and forestry, as well as floriculture and problem-solving skills.
She has also raised pigs and steers, which she sells at the festival every year.
“It’s a project for you to learn what farmers deal with in the real world,” Haley said. “We’re trying to change the face of agriculture.”
The conference is one of the few FFA conferences she has yet to attend. During the five-day event, she will meet FFA leaders who will help her develop her public speaking skills while providing different networking opportunities.
While there, she will also meet other FFA members who are as equally dedicated to the organization.
Conference attendees will see Washington’s history, the White House and are taught responsibility by boarding with people from around the country.
“I’ve wanted to go since the sixth grade,” Haley said. “It’s so amazing meeting people who are passionate. It’s taking you out of your comfort zone.”
Haley’s parents were both members of FFA, and her father served in the military for 25 years. Her brother is a member of Tomlin’s FFA, and her sister is involved in 4-H.
Much of Haley’s inspiration for her FFA involvement comes from her great-grandfather, Osborne Griffin. Griffin was an FFA member who donated to the Florida Strawberry Festival and Grower’s Association.
“I want to follow in his footsteps by giving back to people,” Haley said.
In the future, she hopes to attend the University of Florida before becoming a pediatric anesthesiologist. Her chosen career path includes 12 years of higher education, but Riley believes that FFA has given her the necessary discipline and dedication to succeed.
“I want to make a change in the world,” she said. “I believe in the future of agriculture. It’s the base of America and a huge part of everything. FFA has truly changed my life.”
TO DONATE
Goal: $1,800
Visit: GoEnnounce.com/missions/view/id/4426
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.