During the final minutes of the Montgomery County FFA spring awards banquet on May 10 at the MCHS gymnasium, co-adviser Mary Leykamp got a chance to honor four seniors for their outstanding contributions in their four years with the organization.

Raylene Poston, Presley Schluss, Shea Stille and Lexy Veach were recognized. All of them got plaques for their work as officers this year and hung up their blue jackets. There were some tears from the seniors during the recognition ceremony.

“I realized that each of them have done a lot to this organization and have a lot to look up to,” Leykamp said.

Stille was the president, while Poston, Schluss and Veach shared vice-president duties. With those four graduating, MCHS named a new president and three new vice-presidents for the 2024-2025 school year.
Junior Landon Pottebaum, who was the chapter’s secretary, was named the new president. He adjourned the banquet.

“The president is a great honor for me,” Pottebaum said. “My peers and I worked really hard and I’m excited to see what our officer team can accomplish this year. I can see a lot of room for change and a lot of room for improvement. Those are big shoes to fill with this huge senior class going out. Props to them for four years of hard work and dedication. I hope during my years of service that I’ll improve on that and build on that and continue the sustainability and future of the FFA.”

Juniors Avery Ridgley and Beckham Cothren and sophomore Gracie Cobb were named the new vice-presidents. This year, Ridgley shared secretary duties with Pottebaum, Cothren was the historian and Cobb was the treasurer.

Also, Reed Pottebaum and Jonah Happe were named new secretaries, Olivia Spurgeon was named the new treasurer, Ann Rose was named the new reporter, Dallas Hans was appointed sentinel and Lily Hillebrand was selected historian.

During the two-hour banquet, all of the FFA members were recognized for their work during the 2023-24 school year. There were 83 members in this year’s FFA chapter. Over $27,000 was awarded to FFA members for their work.

Bob and Sharon Ridgley and Ned and Maria Stille were named recipients of the Honorary FFA degree, which is awarded to someone who displays values of the FFA organization.

Stille, who became president this year after being secretary the year before, was part of an agronomy group that finished seventh in state competition when she was a freshman.

Pottebaum said he hopes to become a great leader like Stille was this year.

“Hopefully, I can fill her shoes,” Pottebaum said. “I’ll always be there for my fellow officer team, helping members and trying to encourage members and building a community around it.”

Leykamp applauded Schluss’ strong work ethic with the organization. Schluss received a state FFA degree in her junior year, was an area proficiency winner in agricultural communications, earned a spot on the Missouri FFA Area V officer team, had a top-five finish at an Area V public speaking and delegates event and was voted Top Area V female shooter.

“For those of you guys who need a role model, you need to look at Miss Presley,” Leykamp said.

Poston was named co-vice president this year after being treasurer the year before. She was voted Barnwarming Queen last fall.

“This lady is the backbone of our organization,” Leykamp said. “She is another one of those quiet leaders who already makes sure things are done.”

Veach was appointed co-vice president this year after being a reporter in her junior year. She was one of 10 members who received an FFA state degree in April.

“She’s the one who is quietly working in the background, making sure that everything is done and everyone is having a good time,” Leykamp said. “We need more Lexys in the world.”