Age: 18
Parents: Ray and Annette McGuire
Hometown: Fairland, Okla.
FFA Chapter: Wyandotte FFA
Advisor: Mike Mayfield
What is your favorite aspect of agriculture?
“My favorite part is animal science, particularly raising my pigs. I like to see a project start, develop and finish successfully. One of the best things is that I always learn something new with each group of pigs.”
Who is the most influential person in your life?
“Philip Hofschulte is the most influential. He was an ag teacher, though I never had him as a teacher because he had retired before I got to high school. He has worked with me since I was 12 or 13 and taught me dedication and the importance of hard work in addition to being active in many aspects of FFA.”
What is your current involvement in agriculture?
“I am president of my FFA chapter, and I participate in livestock judging, cattle grading, prepared public speaking and animal science quiz bowl as well as showing pigs.”
Awards: “In 2015, I won Grand Champion Yorkshire Guilt at the American Royal and in 2017 won first place in the Youth for Pork speech contest. I also won a scholarship for college expenses from the Future Agriculture Education Academy and attended Oklahoma State University agriculture week with the highlight being learning how to make and teach a lesson plan to a fellow student.”
What are your future plans?
“I really have a passion for teaching and want to help the next generation of agriculturalists whether they farm, teach or are in ag communications or any other ag-related field. I am running for a state office as the Northeast Area FFA Vice President. If I win that office, I will go to OSU in Stillwater, and if not, I will go to Black Hawk East in Kewanee, Illinois on a scholarship. Then I will finish my preparation for being a teacher at Oklahoma State.”
