Written by Holly Speake
Our Novice Parliamentary Procedure team recently started their season, by competing in two contests this winter, one in Minarets, CA, and one in Merced, CA. Novice Parliamentary Procedure, commonly known as “parli pro”, is a team debate competition, where students show their knowledge about Robert's Rules of Order and agriculture all in one. Students take part in a parliamentary law test, and compete in multiple rounds of competition, answering questions after every round.
While this might sound scary at first, these freshman and sophomore members have taken on the challenge to compete in this contest. These members have practiced tirelessly the past month, under direction of advisor and coach, Anna Bates. Their hard work and dedication was definitely worth it, as they've had a great time competing so far!
When we asked Freshman Maddi Holt about how her experience was at her first competition she said, “actually getting to compete with my team, talk between rounds of competition, and hang out on the drive up to O’Neals were some of my favorite moments”. Another Freshman on the team, Reagan Eatmon, said that her favorite part was “getting to experience rounds (of competition), and bonding with my teammates gave me lasting memories!” It’s safe to say that this whole experience for the team was filled with fun memories and new experiences.
In regards to why these members decided to join the team, Freshman Maddi Holt said “I thought it would be a great experience to connect with other FFA members, from my chapter and from others”. At the competition, there were 5 other Novice teams from schools all over the state! Freshman Reagan Eatmon said that her mom encouraged her to join the team, and after she did, she learned how cool the competition was, and is excited for the future of the team! Reagan is excited to see how the team progresses throughout the rest of the season, and watch herself and her teammates grow as public speakers.
Make sure to wish the Novice Parliamentary Procedure team luck, as they head to their next contest on March 1st at UC Davis. We are so excited to watch your growth this year!