For some, the thought of public speaking sends chills down the spine.

That apparently, isn’t the case for Mexico High School FFA member Grant Norfleet, who took second place in the Missouri Teach Ag Public Speaking Contest, held Jan. 23 at Rolla Technical Center, Rolla. The speech topic was “Agriculture Education in a Diverse World.”

Norfleet says he usually practices the week of, or the week before, the contest.

“One the speech is written and edited, all I have to do is memorize it,” he said.

The memorization process can take one or two days, Norfleet says.

“I just present it over and over again,” he said.. “I couldn’t tell you how many times I have said the speech. I can tell you that my brother can recite at least half of it simply because he’s heard me say it over and over again.”

Right now, Norfleet is looking forward to National FFA Week Feb. 20-28. It’s a busy time for the Mexico FFA, which has eight days of activities planned for members and the community. And with the arrival of the spring semester comes contest season, and for Norfleet, another speech.

Growing up on his family’s cow-calf beef operation and diversified row production, agriculture has been a major part of Norfleet’s life.

“My dad has played a huge role in my passion for agriculture,” he said, “so having a role model like him is how I was encouraged to join FFA and enroll in the agriculture education program.

Grant and brother, Jackson, raise and show cattle - steers and heifers - at local, county, and state fairs through FFA and 4-H.Norfleet is currently the Mexico FFA Chapter president and the Missouri Area IV FFA association president, which serves a 22-chapter region. After graduation, he plans to attend the University of Missouri - Columbia and major in agriculture education - communications and leadership.

He is the son of Kent and Allison Norfleet and resides in rural Mexico. Grant is a senior at Mexico High School.