WHS Agricultural Education News
Good Luck to Maddie Dwyer as she prepares for her NC State FFA Officer Interview. She is the first student ever from WHS to reach for the stars in FFA at the state level.
Go get 'em tiger!
Maddie Dwyer's 2020 Banquet Speech
Greetings Wakefield FFA members, staff, community members, and supporters, it has been an honor to serve as the Wakefield FFA Chapter President for the 2019-2020 school year.
Many of you probably do not remember what you were doing four years ago to this month; well for me I can confidently say I was sitting in the good ol’ Wakefield High School cafeteria. The place where many of the students will spend four years smelling the weird smells and maybe even be lucky enough to experience their first heart break there. Almost to this day, there was a different Dwyer writing this that had the same kind of reflection mindset. He had the honor to serve as the chapter’s President in 2015-2016, I would have never thought I could do the same and serve in the same role as he did.
Many of you probably do not remember what you were doing four years ago to this month; well for me I can confidently say I was sitting in the good ol’ Wakefield High School cafeteria. The place where many of the students will spend four years smelling the weird smells and maybe even be lucky enough to experience their first heart break there. Almost to this day, there was a different Dwyer writing this that had the same kind of reflection mindset. He had the honor to serve as the chapter’s President in 2015-2016, I would have never thought I could do the same and serve in the same role as he did.
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Without him, I would have never gained the experiences and the people in this organization would become my lifelong friends and shape me into the person I become.
I always joke about FFA being my first love, but I think it truly was. All jokes aside, this is an organization I am willing to put all of my time and heart into growing student leadership and the agriculture knowledge of my community around me. Whether it was staking tomatoes in the hot summers of North Carolina with the (Summer) Hoes, watching Riedel serenade us with a shovel during the first week of class, or spending a whole day looking at the rumps of cattle, somewhere in between of all the madness I fell in love with the mission of the FFA and how it can change student lives. I am forever thankful for all of the opportunities the chapter has given me and how it helped me grow not only as a leader, but as a person. Even at my darkest times that I experienced in high school, I found a family that was willing to talk with me and support me to make back into the glorious light once again. |
Look! It's my brother; the man, the myth, the legend, Matt Dwyer giving his banquet speech when he served as President in the 2015-2016 school year.
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To my family, you guys have supported me through thick and thin and are the reason I have made it so far in this organization. Even when I felt alone in my journey, you showed up to support me and show me that I can do this. You have given me the support to one day be successful in life and showed me the tools to get there. Thank you for all the time and energy you have put into me to get to this moment.
To all of the officer teams I have been a part of (all six teams guys that’s crazy), thank you for accepting me for who I am and encouraging me to become a better person. Each of you has shown me what it’s like to have a family that is always there no matter the obstacle or hardship we faced. |
Fetus Maddie and the fam rocking the crocs and sandals in California back in '08!
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To the two officers I get to graduate with this year, wow we really have been through a lot together. We’ve spent four years growing and becoming the amazing young adults we have developed into. Thank you for sticking with me and creating a lifetime of memories that I will forever reminiscence on and I can't wait to visit Soph all the way in Wilmington this Fall! Sorry Paige, you'll be stuck with me with me for the next four years at NC State.
To Melissa Schug, the memory that sticks out the most to me is the time you and Riedel tried to ‘recreate’ the superbowl halftime show from this year. It’s something that will forever haunt me, but it gives me something to laugh about whenever I’m feeling down. Thank you for showing me what it means to be a responsible citizen for our planet AP Environmental and what it’s like to not take life so serious in every moment.
To Kelly Foster, sometimes I questioned the trust you had in me to take care of the animals. This year I somehow almost lost two goats, but you still tasked me with the job of feeding them in the morning. Thank you for the continuous belief and all trips that we took to places that gave me the opportunity to not only grow in my leadership, but who I would become as a person.
To Melissa Schug, the memory that sticks out the most to me is the time you and Riedel tried to ‘recreate’ the superbowl halftime show from this year. It’s something that will forever haunt me, but it gives me something to laugh about whenever I’m feeling down. Thank you for showing me what it means to be a responsible citizen for our planet AP Environmental and what it’s like to not take life so serious in every moment.
To Kelly Foster, sometimes I questioned the trust you had in me to take care of the animals. This year I somehow almost lost two goats, but you still tasked me with the job of feeding them in the morning. Thank you for the continuous belief and all trips that we took to places that gave me the opportunity to not only grow in my leadership, but who I would become as a person.
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To Mrs. Jodi Riedel, what can I say about you? I could write a book of all the memories and times that we have gotten to spend together within the garden and outside of it too. Through all the laughs, tears, and fun times, you have encouraged me to step out of my shell and showed me my true potential; you showed me what it’s like to wake up everyday and live life to the fullest. I am forever thankful that you took a chance on a (second) Dwyer and helped grow in ways that seemed imaginable just four short years ago.
Both these advisors served as the moms that I did not think I needed and showed me what it’s like to be passionate about what they teach. They gave me the tools to be successful and hope to be as amazing as them when I start teaching in my own classroom one day. |
First time for everything! Riedel and I got to go to National FFA Convention which has to be one of the coolest events seeing students from all over the country. I hope to see more students in the future attend this convention from Wakefield FFA!
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To all the members/new officers, take advantage of the opportunities before you because you never know where it can take you. Four years ago sat a shy girl in a horticulture class who did not know who she was or her true potential. You may be reading this wondering if you should take steps in growing your leadership or spreading the message about agriculture in the community and I encourage you to just do it because you never know where these opportunities can take you. Each one of you are the reason I have gotten to this point today and continuously inspire me to grow.
Sophia Hlavenka, served as one of the Co-VPs this year! She will be attending UNCW this Fall studying Marine Biology on the Pre-Vet track.
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Look guys, it's me! The one who decided to write and post this. If anyone is wondering, I will be attending NCSU this Fall studying Agricultural Education (and International Studies now)!
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Paige Morrison, served as one of the Co-VPs this year! She will be attending NCSU this Fall studying Plant Biology.
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I want to leave everyone with this quote; remember to always be green and growing!
I encourage everyone to never stop growing into a better person than you were yesterday. Thank you Wakefield FFA for forever changing my life and who I become in the future. For one last time, Maddie Dwyer signing off! |
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Check out Wakefield High School and Mrs. Riedel. We made it to the FFA New Horizons magazine. So famous! Check out the article "How to become a Chapter Officer" and FFA in the USA.
https://en.calameo.com/read/005107524a708d1feb754
2020-2021 WHS FFA Officer Team
NEXT FFA MEETING?
Thursday, August 27th at 2:30 pm room 316 at WHS. Meetings usually last an hour.
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