Avery Ridgley couldn’t have asked for a better start for her fourth and final year with the Montgomery County FFA group.

Two months ago, the MCHS senior was named Barnwarming queen. Recently, she qualified for state in speech competition.

On Nov. 21, Ridgley was honored for her achievements during the Montgomery County FFA Chapter Winter Awards Reception at Ballew & Snell Court. The ceremony recognizes all of the FFA members for their accomplishments over the last two months.

Ridgley, who is the chapter’s co-vice president, was one of six seniors who participated in their final winter awards ceremony. The others are president Landon Pottebaum, vice-president Beckham Cothren, secretary Jonah Happe and members Garrett Weekley and Dever Cope.

“It’s kind of sad, but it’s also exciting to see everybody getting recognized for their accomplishments,” Ridgley said.

Greenhand Degree recipients and Chapter Degree recipients were honored during the ceremony. MCHS had 25 Greenhand Degree recipients and 21 Chapter Degree recipients.

Awards were also given out to the top performers in trapshooting. MCHS had 18 members on this year’s trapshooting team.

Ridgley placed first at district competition on Nov. 19 in Monroe City for a speech she made about a customer at her family’s meat processing plant being misinformed about antibiotic use in cattle. She was the only MCHS FFA member to qualify for state competition.

“I was not expecting it,” Ridgley said. “The competition at districts was super tough, but I was very excited.”

Ridgley has earned many honors since she joined the FFA chapter in her freshman year. Two years ago, she won a state title in Division 2 Public Speaking at the FFA state convention. She was selected to attend the HYMAX Academy when she was a freshman. She is spending her third year as an officer for the MCHS FFA chapter.

Ridgley said she will be sad when her FFA career comes to an end in May.
“I’m going to miss FFA a lot,” she said. “It’s one of my favorite parts of high school.”

Freshman Henry Schulze was one of the Greenhand Degree recipients. He also earned an award for selling the most fruit out of all of the MCHS FFA members. He sold $3,725.

Schulze, who is also a member of the Boy Scouts, said he is enjoying his time with the FFA after three months.

“It’s good so far,” Schulze said. “It’s fun. There are a lot of activities and a lot of stuff to do.”

Freshman Sullee Falloon was also a Greenhand Degree recipient. She has already set big goals for herself for the MCHS FFA chapter for the next three years.

“I want to get my American Degree,” Falloon said. “It’s the highest one we can get along with all of the other ones. Hopefully, I’ll become an officer.”

Sophomore Angel Breeher said she was thrilled to be named one of the Chapter Degree recipients.

“It’s cool,” she said. “It’s pretty fun. There are a lot of people who are dedicated to this program.”