In a recent report from Kim Hill at ffa.org, Hopkinsville High School’s Madelin Macario noted she began the last school year approaching Hopkinsville FFA Chapter advisor Julie Gilliam with a tough question.
Macario reportedly told Gilliam her English wasn’t strong, and wondered if FFA would be something good for her to join. Gilliam told ffa.org that “it touched her heart” to think because someone’s language wasn’t strong, they didn’t believe they belonged.
Gilliam’s perspective is that there’s a place for everyone in the organization.
This past spring, Macario competed in the Pennyrile Region’s FFA Speaking Contest, held on the campus of Murray State University, where she became the first person in Kentucky to recite the FFA Creed in Spanish. Faculty at the event say Macario answered the judges’ questions with passion and delivered the Creed with poise and enthusiasm — both of which earned her a Superior rating for the performance.
Macario recently delivered the FFA Creed in Spanish to more than 300 attendees at the 2024 Salute to Agriculture Eye-Opener Breakfast, and now she serves as chapter historian and hopes to recruit more Spanish-speaking students to join FFA.
Her full story is available at ffa.org:
