Oklahoma FFA member Cierra Collins is preparing to represent the state at the 2026 National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana, with a speech exploring how agriculture can help address environmental challenges through fungi and soil health. Collins, a senior at Frederick High School and member of the Frederick FFA chapter, won her category at the state level in May to earn the opportunity to compete nationally. All three Oklahoma FFA members representing the state in their respective categories begin competition Wednesday in Indianapolis.
Collins’ speech focuses on the ability of mushrooms to break down plastic, oil and other pollutants, along with the role fungi play in carbon sequestration in agricultural soils. “My speech is about how mushrooms are able to decompose plastic, oil, and different pollutants,” Collins said. “The second main part of my speech is how fungi is essential in sequestering carbon in our agricultural soil.”
She also discusses the importance of maintaining a balance of microorganisms in the soil, explaining how that balance contributes to efficient crop production and agriculture as a whole.
Discovering How Mushrooms Can Help Solve Environmental Problems
Collins said her interest in the subject began several years ago when she and her mother were reading The Drover magazine and came across information about fungi that can sequester carbon in the soil. “And I thought, well, what else can they do?” Collins said.
That question led her to research the ability of certain fungi to decompose plastic, a discovery that changed how she viewed agriculture’s role in addressing environmental concerns. “I discovered the plastic decomposition, and I was completely blown away,” she said. “And I thought to myself, this is an example of how agriculture can solve a problem that we see every day in our society.”
Collins said plastic waste is often viewed as a problem separate from agriculture, even though agricultural research and innovation may offer potential solutions.
She pointed to the plastic pollution frequently discussed in connection with oceans and landfills, noting that the problem can seem impossible to overcome. “You always hear about the waste issue, you know, the floating plastic mounds in the ocean, and it’s often something we think of as a hopeless subject,” Collins said. “We think, how can we possibly solve this problem? We use plastic all the time. Landfills are prevalent. How are we going to solve this?”
Her research into fungi showed her that there may be promising approaches worth exploring. “And then mushrooms came along, and it showed that it’s really a viable solution,” she said. “And I was very grateful that I had the opportunity to look into it more.”
Research and Industry Experiences Helped Shape Her Speech
Collins said her path to the national competition began with an unexpected decision. After spending much of the speech season preparing two other speeches, she decided the day before the regional contest to give the speech on fungi. “I’d had it and I thought, well, it’s a cool topic. Why not give it?” Collins said.
Although her agriculture teacher and parents thought the last-minute decision was unusual, Collins said she was glad she took the opportunity.
Since winning at the state level in May, she has continued researching the topic and revising her presentation with help from her agriculture teacher, Braden Coon and other professionals across Oklahoma.
Collins also visited J&M Mushroom Farms in Miami, Oklahoma, in July, where she learned more about commercial mushroom production. “It was an incredible experience,” Collins said. “The people there are very friendly. We got a tour of the whole process.”
During the visit, she learned how compost is prepared to support fungal growth and how mushrooms are grown and marketed. She also spoke with department leaders to better understand the different stages of production.
The experience gave her a closer look at the science and processes behind mushroom production and helped expand her understanding of the subject beyond her initial research.
Collins also spoke with Timothy Robb, the owner of a small-scale farm who shares her interest in soil health.
She said those conversations helped reinforce one of the central messages she hopes to communicate to her audience: Agriculture has an important role to play in addressing some of society’s most difficult challenges.
Soil Health and Agriculture’s Future
Beyond plastic decomposition, Collins wants her speech to emphasize the importance of protecting agricultural soils and understanding the biological systems that support crop production.
She believes soil health deserves greater attention because of its role in building a productive agricultural foundation. “I think the main point that I want the audience to take away is that no matter how big or how unsolvable a problem may seem in our society, agriculture has a solution,” Collins said.
She also hopes listeners recognize how important agriculture is to the future of society. “Without agriculture, there is no future for our world or for any of us at all,” she said.
For Collins, the relationship between fungi, soil microorganisms and crop production demonstrates how agricultural research can have implications that reach well beyond the farm.
Her speech aims to encourage audiences to look at agriculture not only as a source of food and other products, but also as a field that can contribute to solutions for environmental problems.
Collins Plans to Pursue Agricultural Law at Oklahoma State University
Following her senior year at Frederick High School, Collins plans to attend Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, where she hopes to study agribusiness through a pre-law option.
She said OSU stands out because of its strong agricultural education programs and the connections she has already developed with people at the university. “OSU has always been there. OSU is like my home, even though it’s three hours away,” Collins said. “I know so many people there. I know the teachers there are great. The education is phenomenal. I know I’m going to get a lot out of that.”
While at OSU, Collins hopes to explore different career paths within agricultural law before attending law school. “I just want to be able to advocate for agriculture and its practices and help youth programs along the way and any other agricultural organizations,” she said.
Her interest in agricultural law reflects a desire to support the industry and the people involved in it, including agricultural organizations and youth programs.
FFA Helped Build Confidence, Perseverance and a Passion for Agriculture
Collins said public speaking has been part of her life since childhood. She gave her first sales talk at the Junior National Hereford Expo when she was just seven years old, an experience encouraged by her parents.
Joining FFA helped her develop those skills further while introducing her to new opportunities and challenges. “I’ve always been a competitor. I’ve always been competitive, and I discovered that it is so much more than that,” Collins said.
She said the organization has helped her build relationships, learn more about agriculture and discover strengths she might not otherwise have recognized. “The people you meet, the things you learn, the things you discover about yourself — you really develop a lot of grit,” Collins said.
Preparing her speech for the national competition required perseverance, particularly as she continued refining her research and presentation after the state contest. “Writing a speech took a lot of perseverance, a lot of grit, and without FFA, I wouldn’t be able to have that,” she said.
Collins added that FFA has helped deepen her interest in agriculture beyond competition, strengthening her desire to pursue a career that allows her to advocate for the industry.
As she heads to Indianapolis for the 2026 National FFA Convention, Collins will bring her research on fungi, environmental challenges and soil health to a national audience, with a message centered on agriculture’s potential to help solve problems facing society.
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