BEN WEST
Heavener FFA
By Buck Ringgold
Ben West’s speaking skills have landed him a prominent role at his school in only his sophomore year.
Just a sophomore at Heavener, West has already ascended into a role as his school’s president of the Future Farmers of America. This just coming on the heels of serving as the chapter’s treasurer as a freshman.
How was he able to become the FFA president as a sophomore? It was all about the talk.
“They asked me at the end of our banquet last year if I would be willing, because we have a big vote on it, and I was like, for sure, I’d definitely be willing to run for it,” West said. “Because speaking is something I’ve come to love to do and being the president, you got the speaking parts and the orders that you have to give, in parliamentary procedure for stuff like that.”
And West has no problem getting up and talking.
“I definitely think that it came naturally to me,” he said. “I’ll never forget my dad (Ray), like when we would go to places to eat, he would always make sure even at a young age that I would order for myself. And I think just those little things right there made my speaking ability and talking to other people so much better.
“Right now, I preach quite a bit at our church in Heavener. So I mean, yeah, I definitely would say I love speaking in front of people and I think it’s something that came naturally and I definitely love doing for sure.”
West got involved in the FFA going into his eighth-grade year.
“I remember we were picking electives at the end of 7th grade, and I saw there was (agriculture) and there was a couple computer classes and band,” he said. “And I really just wanted to try ag, try something out.”
Once he picked up agriculture, he learned how to weld and do other things. For instance, West helps out with community events around Heavener, including a carnival held downtown. There, and at other events, West extols the virtues of agriculture.
West also gives credit to his agriculture teachers at Heavener, Jeremy Krebbs and Chad Ritter, for their roles.
“Mr. Krebbs in particular, because I had his class,” West said. “In eighth grade, he was the one who pulled me out and was like, man, I think you can do this speaking stuff for us.
“So I was kind of nervous about it first because I didn’t know what I was gonna get into, but he really pushed me, he pushed me out of my cell. He told me, you’re gonna have to do this because I know you have what it takes. And then, as I got older, freshman year, being the treasurer, then 10th grade this year, being the president, they made sure that I have the best possible time at Heavener.”
Though West doesn’t breed any animals, he does perform activities such as cleaning out pens and stalls.
West also keeps an active schedule away from FFA. He competes on the Heavener football, basketball and track teams, the latter of which is coached by his father.
In addition, Ben participates in speaking as part of the Business Professionals of America, placing fourth in the entire state for unprepared extemporaneous speech. He also plays guitar at his church and carries a 4.0 grade-point average.
West is really looking forward to this spring. In late April, the school will hold its FFA annual banquet. Then in May, he will take part in the state FFA convention.
“I’ve got to make sure I know all my parts, you know, I’ve got to be smooth with my speaking and we’ll do a big auction and stuff like that,” West said. “I’ll have to be prepared and represent Heavener and represent our ag chapter, so little stuff like that.”
In regards to his upcoming junior year, West plans to run for president again.
“I really love doing it,” he said. “I definitely love having that responsibility for sure.”
