BENTON COUNTY — Matthew Van Houden, of the Pea Ridge High School FFA, recentlyqualified for the Northwest Arkansas District FFA Creed speaking contest. Van Houden was one of two studentsqualifying for district level competition by edging out 14 other students from all of the schools in Benton County as well as Springdale High School and Springdale Har-Ber.
The district contest will be April 6 at the University of Arkansas, Morrillton. This contest will include all other area winners across the northwest region of the state.
“If Matthew is in the top two at district, he will qualify for the state championship. If he wins state, he will represent Arkansas in the national championship,” Perry Mason, FFA advisor said. “I know this is getting ahead of ourselves, but the first national winner ever in FFA Creed Speaking, wasfrom Arkansas.”
The FFA creed is a fiveparagraph speech which all first year FFA members must memorize and recite in front of the class during their first year of high-school agriculture class. The very best are encouraged to compete and begin practicing at that point for the AreaContest, which was held at Siloam Springs this year.
Van Houden is the son of John and Tina Van Houden of Pea Ridge.
School, Pages 8 on 03/21/2012