Senior farm and ranch broadcaster Ron Hays spoke with Corbin Robbins from the Chattanooga FFA Chapter, who is representing Oklahoma in the national extemporaneous speaking contest at the 98th FFA convention. Corbin shared how his journey into extemp began after competing in prepared and policy speeches. “After I had done prepared for so long… I did extemp for my very first contest last year, my junior year, and I really started to like it,” he said. What appealed to him most was the freedom and spontaneity of the event — “I can go in and just talk about whatever I draw… it just sounds like lots of fun to me.”
When it comes to topics, Corbin explained that he’s drawn a “plethora of different types of topics,” but he prefers to stay within the policy realm. “My key is try and find one that’s more policy focused, because that’s what I’m best at,” he said, adding that his background in agriculture helps him relate to almost any subject. Even challenging topics like urban farming have become enjoyable for him after research and experience — “I used to struggle with [urban farming] a lot… but I enjoy if I get an urban farming topic now — that one’s fun.”
Corbin credits much of his success to both preparation and his agricultural roots. “While there’s a lot of research that goes into it, you have to read a lot,” he explained. “Being a sixth-generation farmer and rancher gives me a pretty good edge… I’ve lived it, and my family has lived it, and then I can just pull it to any of these topics.” His FFA journey began early, long before he could wear the iconic blue jacket. “I’ve been waiting to put on the blue jacket since I understood what it was,” Corbin said. From creed speaking to showing cattle, he’s embraced every opportunity FFA offers.
For Corbin, FFA means far more than agricultural education. “While people think of it as just an ag organization, it’s so much more than that,” he reflected. The friendships and connections he’s made have been just as valuable as the skills he’s developed. “The people I’ve gotten to meet… are now lifelong friends of mine that I would have never known if I didn’t join FFA,” he said. Competing on the national level again brings both excitement and nerves — “I come in with a level of preparation… but there’s also this level of uncertainty too… Please pull policy. Please pull policy every time.”
Looking ahead, Corbin said FFA has helped shape his future path and purpose. “It has molded me into somebody that knows what they want to do with their life,” he said. His goal is to advocate for farmers and ranchers, eventually working in agricultural policy. “I want to speak on behalf of them at Capitol Hill… I want to be the voice, because I’ve lived it and I’ve seen it,” he said. After high school, Corbin plans to attend either Texas A&M or Oklahoma State University, major in ag communications and pre-law, and ultimately, “open up my own lobbying firm… that’s the dream goal for me.”
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