May 3 was a day to remember for Presley Schluss.

The Montgomery County senior left Bowling Green High School as a Missouri FFA Area V officer. During a banquet, she was selected to become reporter of an officer team that serves 16 schools that include Palmyra, Orchard Farm, Monroe City and Troy Buchanan.

“It was pretty crazy,” Schluss said. “I was so overwhelmed with happiness just knowing that I was making it on the team. I didn’t really care what office I was in.”

After the first several months as officer, Schluss has been busy with FFA-related activities. Recently, she went to Bowling Green to attend an area leadership conference.

“I put on a workshop and had about 500 kids attend, which was a really big turnout,” Schluss said. “It was more than what I was expecting, but I think it went really well. Everyone learned a whole lot about leadership.”

Schluss also shares vice-president duties with senior Raylene Poston for the MCHS FFA. She has been a member of the chapter since her freshman year.

Schluss has enjoyed success with the chapter. Last year, she earned a state degree at the Missouri FFA state convention, was an area proficiency winner in agricultural communications and placed fifth in teach ag at the Area V Fall Public Speaking and Delegates Meeting.

Schlulss said being in FFA helped sharpen her social skills such as eye contact, hand shaking and speaking in front of people.

“It set up a lot of my career skills,” the senior said. “If I am going into sales and social marketing, I need to be able to communicate with people effectively. I think all of my experiences so far have really helped me with some skills.”

Schluss became the third MCHS FFA member in as many years to join the Area V officer team. Izzy Freymuth served as the area’s president in the 2021-22 school year, becoming the first chapter member since 2014 to earn a spot on the area officer team. The following year, Cora Johnson was the treasurer.

“It definitely puts a whole lot more on my plate, but I’m really happy that I get to take such a big role in being a role model for all of my members and the members across the area,” Schluss said.

Schluss was one of 22 students from 16 schools to interview for a position on the area officer team last spring. She later qualified for another round of personal interviews. She found out at the banquet that she was named reporter for the 2023-24 school year.

Schluss said she first became interested in joining the Area V group in her sophomore year, when she served as parliamentarian for the MCHS FFA chapter.

“During my sophomore year, when I got into public speaking, I really enjoyed it and I loved being a chapter officer, so I thought why not take it and run with it?” Schluss said. “This year as an area officer has been absolutely fantastic, so I’m hoping that in the spring that I could run for state office and maybe do another year of service.”