When she was in middle school, Riley Reid dreamed of becoming a member of the Montgomery County High School Future Farmers of America chapter.

Last year, Reid’s dream came true when she was one of 30 freshmen selected to the chapter.

“Knowing that I have the heights for getting into FFA makes me feel happy,” Reid said. “FFA is something that involves my life. I have horses at home and I’ve grown up around them all of my life. FFA is a big part of me.”

So far, Reid is enjoying her best year with the MCHS FFA chapter that includes a chapter degree and a top-six finish in public speaking district competition. Next year, the sophomore will be one of six MCHS FFA members who will be attending the Washington Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C.

On Nov. 16, Reid was one of numerous members who were honored at the MCHS FFA Awards Reception at Ballew & Snell Court. The one-hour event recognized the members for their accomplishments during the last several months. Awards were given out for trapshooting, fruit selling, State FFA camp and fall contests. There were also ceremonies recognizing the chapter and Greenhand degree recipients.

The reception began with the introductions of all of the officers – president Shea Stille, vice-presidents Raylene Poston, Presley Schluss and Lexy Veach, secretaries Avery Ridgley and Landon Pottebaum, treasurer Gracie Cobb, reporter Jonah Happe, historian Beckham Cothren and sentinel Garrett Weekley.

Weekley, who is a junior, said he is enjoying his first year as an officer.

“I learned a lot about responsibility and leadership,” Weekley said. “You have to be able to get up in front of people, talk in front of a crowd and be able to speak to large groups of people. I learned a lot about that. I’m a pretty shy person when it comes to large groups like this.”

MCHS had 23 Greenhand degree recipients, all of them got their hands dyed in green hours before the ceremony. The degree is awarded to members ninth grade and older.

Freshman Ann Rose was one of those recipients.

“It’s the start of FFA,” Rose said. “It’s the first degree that I can get, so hopefully from here, I’ll move on and get all of my other degrees such as my chapter, leadership, state and American.”

Rose also earned Rookie of the Year honors for trapshooting. She said she was thrilled she was on the same team with her brother, Brayden, who is a senior.

“I was nervous going into trap, but I had my brother helping me through everything,” the freshman said. “We spent like a week practicing for it. He helped me calm my nerves before every trap shoot. I’m definitely going to miss him when he graduates.”

Brayden Rose earned the Most Improved Award in trapshooting. He was on the team all four years.

“It’s always been a very fun time hanging out with friends,” he said. “There’s not a lot of pressure to do good. You just have fun while doing it.”

Reid said she was happy to be one of 22 members getting a chapter degree, which is the highest degree a chapter member can receive. The other recipients were Cothren, Cobb, Noah Beck, Skylar Bethmann, Kaylie Davis, Eli Deuser, Colby Ellis, Gillian Francois, Cassidy Holmes, Mackenzie Kelling, Katlyn Kolling, Jada Kroner, Wyatt March, Chase Queathem, Karter Reagan, Trice Roden, Annie Schneider, Georgia Strahan, Austin Smith, Westin Strube and Jacob Teson.

“It was definitely exciting,” Reid said. “I’ve waited for this for a while. FFA is one of my passions and it makes me happy.”

Reid, who lives outside of Bellflower and raises three horses and a mule, said the best parts about being in FFA are learning about agriculture and getting to fellowship with members every day.

“For me, FFA feels like home for me,” Reid said. “It feels like I’m with my people. It feels like the one place I can really be myself and connect with many people.”

Also, freshman Olivia Spurgeon was named a Greenhand recipient and won the FFA Creed Speaking contest.

Other Greenhand recipients were Angel Breeher, Rhett Bishop, Gavin Davis, Cayden Eveland, Bradyn Frauenhoffer, Preston Harner, Lily Hillebrand, Isaac Hinkel, Lafe McCurdy, Owen Merz, Josh Mische, Dylan Murr, Megan Pierson, Reed Pottebaum, Austyn Robinson, Sam Turner, Sarah Waters, Jillian Weekley and Alaina Zerr.