The 96th annual West Virginia FFA State Convention was held July 10 – 13 at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley. The top regional winners competed in various speaking and agricultural related contests.
William Waddy, V, a Hardy County resident returned for his third consecutive competition. This year, he was competing in extemporaneous public speaking. In this category, participants are given three random general agriculture topics and they are to choose one to prepare a four- to six-minute speech. They are given 30 minutes to research and create their speech. At the conclusion, judges ask questions for five minutes. Finalists are selected based on speech delivery, content, and responses to the questions. More than one person may speak on the same topic. He was selected as one of the top three contestants and earned the opportunity to speak on the second day of competition.
Waddy won the top honor which allows him to return as the state representative for West Virgina at the National FFA Convention in October at Indianapolis.
Previously he placed fourth in the nation for FFA freshman creed contest and earned a bronze star last year for his prepared public speaking entry.
He serves as president of his FFA chapter at Petersburg High School and is encouraged by his advisor, Missy Whetzel.
He is the son of Bill and Norma Waddy of Fisher and the grandson of John and the late Phyllis (Alt) Waddy of Petersburg and Victor and Betty Hardy of Fisher.
