When Leah Kleinsorge was selected as president of the Wellsville-Middletown FFA chapter for the 2025-26 school year, she was excited to be a high officer like her three older siblings – Alex, Abbigail and Libby were.

“I really love the organization as do my three older siblings,” the W-M junior said.

Kleinsorge leads an officer team that includes Gavyn Moritz (vice president), Kara Freie (secretary), Abbie Freie (treasurer), Garrett Poage (reporter), Colton Gilbert (sentinel), Gage Nichols (historian) and Royce Wilkinson (chaplain). Last year, she was sentinel.

On June 26, Kleinsorge and seven other FFA members attended an outdoor meeting near the high school baseball field that included a discussion on plans for the summer as well as for the school year.

“Our biggest goal for this year is to get more active members and have more contest teams,” Kleinsorge said. “The fun part of FFA is getting to take off days of school and going to compete in things you studied so hard in and getting more kids involved. We have lots of kids who paid their dues, but we’re ready for the young contest teams and come with us on trips. Also, getting an active junior high school program. They can come to our meetings, but finding a bigger way for them to be a part of our chapter and our community.”

Moritz, the Freie sisters, Poage, Gilbert, Wilkinson, Victoria Jones and Leo Oligschlaeger joined Kleinsorge and co-advisers Courtney Ankrom and Larissa Gamm at the meeting. Afterwards, they played softball and had a bonfire despite the humid conditions outside.

Moritz is serving as an officer for the first time. He said he’s looking forward to his last year with the FFA.

“It’s going to come around the corner faster than I ever expected it to, but I’m excited,” Moritz said. “I think it will be a pretty great year. I’m very excited to see what all changes that we can make and what we can do to better our chapter.”

Moritz and Abbie Freie are the only seniors on the W-M FFA chapter.

Last year, the W-M FFA had new leadership as Ankrom and Gann took over the adviser role, replacing Emily Holbert and Audrey McDowell. Still, the chapter had many highlights, like going to the national convention in Indianapolis and seeing its past president – recent W-M graduate – Maddi Poage receive her chapter degree.

“It was a big change getting a new ag advisor, but I think we worked it out very well,” Moritz said. “It was an overall pretty good year. The national convention was very fun. Our CDEs (Career Development Events) were very fun, too. I tried to join a CDE team and I really enjoyed it more than I thought I would.”

Kleinsorge enjoyed an outstanding sophomore year. She qualified for districts in Division 2 Prepared Public Speaking after placing third in area competition.

“I really like public speaking,” Kleinsorge said. “That’s one of my favorite parts about FFA. Most kids will tell you I’m crazy, but I enjoy it.”

Kleinsorge plans to participate in the county and state fairs this summer. She will be showing sheep after showing cattle in the past.

“Through 4-H, I do some building projects at the county fair,” Kleinsorge said. “At the district expo, I do plants. I’m on a district expo board this year. At the state fair, I’ll exhibit my sheep and I’ll send some building items to our FFA building and 4-H building.”