Carly Henderson couldn’t have asked for a better way to start her final FFA Week in her four years with the Wellsville-Middletown FFA chapter.

The W-M senior left the Lake of the Ozarks as a state champion on Feb. 20 after placing first in the pork producing category at the Missouri Pork Expo state contest, held at Margaritaville Lake Resort in Osage Beach.

After the event, Henderson celebrated her state title by having ice cream at Central Dairy with co-adviser Audrey McDowell.

“It was a good way to wrap up the day,” Henderson said.
During FFA Week, the W-M FFA went to church at Hopewell Baptist Church, wore their red, white and blue apparel to school, drove their tractors to school, put up flags on President’s Day on Feb. 20 and held their annual supporters breakfast, where community members get a complimentary meal that includes pancakes, biscuits and gravy, eggs and sausage.

“This week has been pretty fun,” said senior Kaleb Peak, who is the chapter’s reporter.

Henderson’s state title was the biggest highlight of FFA Week for W-M, which has 32 members in its chapter.

“I was really proud that she got out there and did a speech for the first time and won state,” said sophomore Maddi Poage, who is the secretary. “I thought that was really good.”

Henderson, who is the chapter’s president, qualified for state by placing first at districts on Nov. 15 at Monroe City High School. She wrote a speech that talked about the impact and the importance of international pork markets.

At state, Henderson went up against five other competitors.

“It was definitely a very nerve-racking experience because you knew this was the best of the best talking about pork producers,” Henderson said.

The senior said she was definitely shocked after she found out she won the state championship.

“I was like, ‘There is no way I can win state. That’s not possible,’” Henderson said. “But when they called my name, I was like, ‘Wow, I guess it’s possible.’”

Henderson is one of six seniors on the FFA chapter this year. The others are Peak, Natalie Boeckelman, vice-president Libby Kleinsorge, Kaylee Marshall and Molly Scott.

Peak is in his third year as an officer of the FFA chapter. He was a chaplain last year and an assistant sentinel the year before that.

“It’s more responsibility definitely, but it also comes with more fun,” Peak said. “I can be more involved in FFA this way and I have more opportunities.”

Henderson said she will be definitely sad when her FFA career comes to an end.

“I’m definitely not looking forward to the end of my senior year of FFA as a whole,” Henderson said. “We’re getting ready to start the spring contest season. I know that’s like what I look forward to every year, so it will be bittersweet when it comes to an end. But I’m making the most of every moment.”

Juniors Jenelle Boeckelman (treasurer), AJ Sherwood (sentinel) and Meagan Cripe (chaplain) are the other officers.