Name: Heyley Heupel, 17
Parents: Brandon and Chassidy Heupel
School: Heyley is a senior at East Newton High School.
FFA: Heyley is the first-ever State Champion in the Advanced Prepared Public-Speaking Competition for the East Newton FFA. She will compete in the national competition in Indianapolis, Ind., in October.
FFA Advisors: John Littlefield and Steve Loveday
Public-Speaking Coaches: Katie Elliot-Engell of Neosho, Mo., and Rhett Laubach of Oklahoma City, Okla.
How are you involved in agriculture?
“My grandfather, Danny Heupel of Wheaton, Mo., has taken me to the livestock auction at Exeter, Mo., every Saturday since I can remember. He bought me my first calf when I was born, and I’ve been buying and trading cattle ever since. I now work for that same sale barn, Mo-Ark Livestock Auction of Exeter, owned by Gary and Vickie Brown.”
Why public speaking?
“My instructor, Mr. Littlefield, suggested that I participate in that category because I love to ask questions in class and participate in classroom discussions. In other words, I’m not shy.”
What is the topic of your winning speech?
“My speech is entitled “Trich or Treat”, and it’s about bovine trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted disease in cattle.”
Why is that topic so important?
“Because of the devastating economic impact of “trich”. A rancher’s whole livelihood can hang in the balance if he uses a trich-infected bull to breed his heifers and cows. My speech deals not only with the definition of trich, but also with how it is contracted, and how to prevent its spread.”
Story by Sheila Harris and Photo by Sarah Lee
