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Frontier freshman finds confidence with FFA projects

By Kristen Hainkel 3 min read

NEW MATAMORAS -- Incoming Frontier freshman Trinity Bailey placed third in the Ohio State Fair July 30 for her interpretation of an assigned subject.

The competition was hosted by 4-H, the youth community group. Bailey, 14, competed against students from all 88 Ohio counties. Each student did a project based on the topic "Finding Your Voice."

"There's several kids who have the same project as you, and you're judged on your presentation," she said.

Bailey said she resonated with the topic due to her experience with anxiety.

"I had really bad anxiety, and I thought public speaking projects would help me," she said. "Whenever I was younger, if I would get asked to speak in front of people, I would get scared. But this project helped me."

Bailey said she practiced her speech often ahead of the competition.

During the competition, Trinity said the judge she spoke to helped her.

"The judge I had made me feel comfortable to talk to her," she said.

Bailey said she received good feedback about her project.

"They said I had good eye contact and spoke with good volume," she said.

When she was announced as a winner, Bailey said she could hardly believe it.

"I didn't know they called my name and had to ask if they did. I sometimes doubt myself on things I do. I was really happy and excited," she said.

Bailey had competed in several previous state fairs, but this is the first year she placed. She said she would do it again, but might try another project.

This will be Trinity's second year at Frontier. She attended Frontier Middle School this past year and will move up to the high school.

She said she is looking forward to participating in sports, such as the cheerleading team.

"I like being able to go out there with enthusiasm, and I like to do stunts," she said.

Trinity said she also wants to try out for the softball team this coming year.

"I did it when I was younger, but I moved schools," she said. "I didn't want to do it for that particular school, but now I do."

Trinity is a member of FFA and shows market goats. She said she likes to name them in pairs. Last year she had a pair named Bill and Phill. This year it's Skittles and M&Ms.

"One of them is always bigger, and one is always smaller and that's now I tell them apart."

She takes her goats to the Washington County Fair and participates in the showmanship category.

Kristen Hainkel can be contacted at khainkel@newsandsentinel.com

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