2. Telling your story! People want to hear about your experience Write with passion Keep it short and sweet Use facts and figures (see the Ag Proud Site)

3. What YOU can do… Look at the Ag Proud website for speech examples Modify, to fit YOUR story Give a speech at your school or a local event Don’t be shy, your voice is important! STEP UP! RECRUIT FRIENDS

4. Suggested Template for a Speech Major ItemsDescriptions Introduce Yourself This includes who you are, where you are from, what your interests are Explain Why Ag is Important to You This should be personal….what is your connection to ag? Explain Texas Proud You can describe three main points or just pick one and discuss. Follow-up on at Least One Point Use statistics and facts to support the point Closing Reiterate why ag is so important and leave time for questions.

5. I Have a Speech, Now What? Practice, Practice, Practice Dress nicely Be yourself Speak clearly Speak Slowly Look at your audience Most importantly, get excited to talk about agriculture! AG IS LIFE! TELL YOUR STORY!!! DON’T BE SHY!

6. What’s Next? After you start getting your story out there, don’t be surprised if others take notice They may even start asking you questions about your agriculture story—be yourself! Don’t be afraid to seek an adult mentor like your Ag teacher or county agent STEP UP! RECRUIT FRIENDS Enthusiasm is key! DON’T BE SHY! AG IS LIFE! TELL YOUR STORY!!!

7. And don’t forget to be Texas Proud of Texas Agriculture!