A way with words

LAKE MILLS, Wis. — The opening lines of the FFA creed, and all the lines that follow, are ideals Justin Brandel knows by heart.

On June 10, Brandel won the state FFA creed speaking Leadership Development Event at the 96th state convention of the Wisconsin Association of FFA in Madison. During this event, contestants recite the FFA creed and answer questions based on the creed’s content and meaning.

“It was so awesome,” Brandel said. “It was a very big undertaking, and I was definitely out of my comfort zone at first.”

Brandel is the son of Matt and Tracy Brandel. His family and extended family operate Straussdale Holsteins near Lake Mills, where they milk about 110 cows twice a day in a double-8 parlor.

“I’ve taken a big passion in milking cows and feeding heifers and surrounding myself with those animals I love working with every day,” Brandel said.

Brandel is the youngest of four children and works on the farm alongside his siblings — Colton, Ashley and Katie — as well as cousins, grandpas, uncles and aunts.

“The creed has sentimental value, not just to me, but to our family,” Brandel said. “The creed is something we all love. A very special family member, Brian Krull, who passed away due to the result of a farm accident, also did the creed. He was in the top at the state convention, and the first time I did the creed, I wanted to do it for him. That was super important.”

Mastering the creed took time for the 15-year-old.

“I have dyslexia, so it was something that was definitely harder for me,” Brandel said. “Memorizing a 5-paragraph script isn’t very easy.”

The FFA creed was written in 1930 by E.M. Tiffany, professor of agricultural education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is five paragraphs in length and was adopted at the third national FFA convention.

“Each paragraph relates to a different topic, and overall, it just flows great,” Brandel said.

Maintaining a steady pace without saying the creed too fast or too slow is the goal.

“You want to keep the judges entertained, maybe by raising or lowering your voice for certain words and parts and being able to show hand motions that fit your words,” Brandel said.

After completing the creed, contestants are presented with three questions. For example, they might be asked what a specific word, line or paragraph of the creed means.

“Knowing the creed and having its history down is really important,” Brandel said. “I’m very good with my words and really happy with myself and how far I’ve come.”

Brandel is a member of the Lake Mills FFA Chapter, where his advisor is Luke Wiedenfeld. The creed-speaking LDE is designed for seventh- to ninth-grade FFA members to develop leadership and communication skills. To qualify for the state finals, students must first compete at the district and sectional levels. Brandel took first place in both of those contests.

“The creed speaking contest at the state convention is very competitive,” he said. “Everyone is good. If you weren’t good, you wouldn’t be there. You’re here to give it your all, and you have to go in and show them you want this. You get really nervous, but if you’re able to put those nerves past you, you’re able to accomplish so much more than you think.”

Brandel said he strives to say the creed in approximately two minutes and 20 seconds.

He said each question should be answered within 80-90 seconds.

“That way, you’re impressing your judges with great information but keeping it short and simple,” Brandel said. “From district to state, the questions got trickier, and you were tasked to know a little bit more information.”

Brandel joined FFA at the start of his freshman year last September.

“Going into high school was super nerve wracking, but FFA opened up that high school picture for me,” Brandel said. “I was able to get involved in so many clubs and activities through FFA, and that really set me up for my future — both in school and in FFA.”

During a unit on the FFA creed in his agriculture class, Brandel and his classmates were charged with memorizing the first paragraph of the creed and presenting it in front of the class.

“Most people took their paper up there with them, but I was able to just memorize the first paragraph right away,” Brandel said.

It took Brandel about 1.5 months to memorize the remainder of the creed.

“I was preparing months before the competition, and I was very happy with how well I knew it,” Brandel said. “Coming from a farm and other agricultural pursuits definitely helped me out. I was able to benefit from that experience and show that experience in my creed.”

Brandel’s accomplishment has benefited him on multiple levels.

“I grew out of so many old habits like stage fright, and now I feel confident in front of other people,” Brandel said. “I presented the creed many times in front of my teachers, classmates, family members, etc., and today, I am a much better public speaker. I’m able to go out pretty much anywhere and stand up in front of a group of people and be a leader.”

Brandel will be a sophomore at Lake Mills High School this fall and plans to be an FFA officer. In the future, Brandel said he would like to be a hoof trimmer.

Brandel is also involved in 4-H, the Junior Holstein Association, and other dairy and livestock clubs. Another accolade Brandel recently earned was being named a Young Distinguished Junior Member finalist by Holstein Association USA.

“I’ve been showing cattle for as long as I can remember,” Brandel said. “My family does competitive showing throughout the country. We’re also involved in marketing our animals.”

Brandel will represent Wisconsin at the 98th National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis, Indiana, this November in the FFA creed-speaking LDE. The national winner will be selected from a group of state finalists and will receive a plaque and additional scholarship money.

“The creed was something to really help me get involved in my FFA career,” Brandel said. “Whether it was my advisor, my family or my friends I had a great support system to cheer me on. It made my year in FFA impactful, and I’m excited to move on to the national contest.”