After just two years, Maddi Poage has been an active member for the Wellsville-Middletown FFA chapter, earning several awards in the speaking category, working as a delegate in the state convention and participating in the HYMAX Academy.

Next year, the W-M sophomore is ready to work in a big role. She was selected as the chapter’s president for the 2023-2024 school year.

Poage will head a chapter that will include vice-president Helanea McKenzie, secretary Rachel Davis, treasurer AJ Sherwood, reporter Meagan Cripe, sentinel Caden Gilbert and chaplain Abbie Freie. On April 24, she got to adjourn the W-M FFA banquet at the school’s gymnasium.

“I’m really excited,” Poage said. “I definitely did not expect to be president this year. I figured somebody else that was higher up than me would get it. When they said that I was president, I was really excited. I think I’ll do well this year.”

During the banquet, awards were given away in numerous categories such as top fruit seller, leadership and career development events and Greenhand.

Also, five people were named Honorary Chapter Degree recipients. They were W-M activities director/principal Jessie Cobb, Barry and Jill Leverett and Phil and Deanna Peak.

The senior class of Carly Henderson, Libby Kleinsorge, Kaleb Peak, Kaylee Marshall, Molly Scott, Mason Guzy and Natalie Boeckelman was recognized. All of the seniors hung up their FFA jackets in a coat rack before the ceremony ended.

Peak recently had a strong showing at the Missouri FFA Convention, earning a placement proficiency award in swine production and being recognized as the Area V star in placement. Peak said he’s going to miss being part of the W-M FFA.

“It has been the best four years of my life,” said Peak, who was the chapter’s reporter.

Henderson, who won a state title in the pork producing category this year, said she enjoyed her time as FFA president.

“It’s been an absolute joy to serve this past year as chapter president, an opportunity I would always be thankful for,” said Henderson, who plans to attend Iowa State University next year.

Now, Henderson’s successor is hoping for big things for the W-M chapter in the 2023-23 school year.

“I think that I want to add some new events this year and do something to improve our members, get more members and get members to be active in the clubs,” Poage said.

Poage served as the chapter’s secretary this year. She was part of an officer group that included Henderson, Peak, Kleinsorge, Sherwood, Cripe and junior Jenelle Boeckelman.

“It definitely taught me how to work better as a team and work with a group of people instead of by myself,” said Poage, who also plays softball and works as the manager of the baseball team at W-M. “We plan a lot of events throughout the year. Just watching everybody else communicate definitely taught me how to communicate better within the group. I think that would definitely help me this year to serve the president.”

Poage said she enjoyed her visit at this year’s state convention on April 20-21 at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She served as one of the voting delegates.
“We got to watch lots of awards and scholarships to be presented,” Poage said. “I had to watch Kaleb go on to nationals, which was super exciting. We’re all really excited for him. Overall, I really enjoyed the weekend.”