One segment of competition season is just around the corner, my friends. But, in reality, when is it not? There is no such thing as an off-season for a competing FFA member. Whether you compete at fairs, at state convention, at national convention, in the summer, or in the spring, working towards your competition is nearly an everyday thing. But, for those of you who are considering competition, or simply don't know what it's like, it goes a little like bit like this.

At the very beginning, you decide exactly what you want to compete in. This decision takes your talents, strengths, and likes into consideration. If you get lucky, what you like, what you're good at and what you have a talent for are the same thing, and your competition is easy to choose. There are certain competitions in which there are more decisions to be made as soon as you choose what you'll be competing in. For example, if you choose to compete in prepared public speaking you must then decide what topic you'll be speaking about and how you'll word your speech. If you choose a competition like ag issues, you must also choose a topic, and then establish how you'll deliver your presentation. The decision process is exciting, but also an extremely vital part to the competition process. You must choose one that fits you, and that you know you'll have confidence in competing in.

Next, you put your heart and soul into practicing. You devote so much of your time in classes and outside of school into rehearsing, practicing, and preparing. All of your passion for your competition should be evident in what you do. You do what could be considered "dress rehearsals" for your friends, family, teachers, and occasionally, even pets. Anyone who can act as an audience, you perform in front of. You spend countless hours in your room reciting speeches or scripts, or procedures. You complete practice tests and study with flashcards every free second you get... Whether that be in between classes, in the passenger seat of a car, or laying in bed before you go to sleep. You practice evaluating different animals, or evaluating different foods, in hope that when your competition comes, you'll amaze the judges.

Finally, the anticipated day comes, and you're ready to compete. You're aware of all the time and effort you've dedicated to your competition, and you can't wait to finally do what you've been working so hard towards. There are two ways your competition can go, and both can be considered learning experiences.

You get up there and do what you truly believe you do best. Your competition goes as smoothly as possible, and you hold back happy tears as you walk away because you're fully confident that you crushed it, and how you place doesn't even matter because you're so incredibly humbled and proud with the job you've completed. You're so excited to continue doing what you love, and the adrenaline you feel only motivates you more to do this all again.

Or, you get up there and the complete opposite occurs. It happens to the best of us. Suddenly those hours spent practicing, rehearsing, and focusing are forgotten. Your mind draws a blank, and you try your best, but your competition simply doesn't go as you had hoped. You feel defeated, and as if all the hours you put in were for nothing. It can be difficult to pick yourself up after an event like this, but once you do, you're only motivated to do better next time, and to try harder.

Being a competing FFA member is rewarding, exciting, tough, and takes a lot of dedication, but any FFA member will tell you that it's absolutely worth it.