Senior and varsity softball player Madison Wallace is looking forward to the upcoming season on the diamond and she is ready to things underway with the Fairview FFA chapter. Wallace first joined FFA when she was going into her freshman year. Her first experience in FFA was the Big 3 Field Days Livestock Judging Contest.
“That first time I went to Big 3, I met Emily Cusack who I also play softball with, she encouraged me to become more involved in showing and even run for chapter office. After that she instantly became my best friend,” said Wallace.
Showing livestock is just one of the activities Wallace is involved in, but it does take up most of her time.
“In the FFA I enjoy meeting the amazing people and showing livestock,” said Wallace. “I am currently serving as Fairview FFA’s chapter secretary. I show goats and pigs, and I also participate in judging livestock, and more recently competed in the Agricultural Education CDE contest.”
Wallace started showing livestock when she was in the seventh grade. Then, it was swine and in the tenth grade she started showing goats. Wallace said there have been many people who have helped her during her high school career in FFA.
“Mr. Curry, Mr. McGolden, Emily Cusack, and the two student teachers we just had this previous year have all been big influences on me. Mr. Curry and Mr. McGolden have helped me in so many ways. They’ve helped me achieve my goals, they’ve brought me out of my comfort zone, and just made me fall completely in love with this organization. Emily Cusack showed me what FFA is all about and she’s helped me improve on my social life and my ability to speak in front of a group of people. Quaid and Chelsea Kennan (our student teachers) helped me this year start my Ag-Ed CDE, something I didn’t even know I would enjoy as much as I did. All of these people have made me be excited to go to ag every day and be involved and get others involved in the FFA,” said Wallace.
The shortstop said she loves FFA, playing fastpitch and slow-pitch softball and being a class representative on the Student Council. She said anyone looking into FFA should jump at the opportunity to join.
“My advice to any student thinking about going into the FFA would be to just go for it. Fairview has the best Ag teachers, and they would make sure they found something for you to enjoy and they would continuously encourage you to do your best in whatever it is you want to do,” said Wallace.
