McClain FFA team earns state champ in communications event; team will represent Ohio FFA at national convention
McClain FFA members (l-r) Olivia Stegbauer, Addison Goddard, Hailey Halterman, and Brooke Baldwin are pictured at the recent state agricultural communication competition where the team came out on top. (Photo courtesy of Madison Schumacher.)
By Angela Shepherd
GEVS
McClain FFA members recently earned the distinction of state champions in an agricultural communications competition after coming in second two years in a row prior.
Brooke Baldwin, Addison Goddard, Haily Halterman, and Olivia Stegbauer are the Ohio FFA Agricultural Communications 2025 State Champions and they were recognized at this month’s school board meeting for the achievement.
At that meeting, they explained the competition. They all attended a simulated press conference a couple weeks ago at OSU about an agricultural program. From there, each of them took on a different media platform and crafted a marketing presentation to promote the program.
So what is agricultural communication? According to information provided by FFA adviser Madison Schumacher, it’s a field that focuses on sharing agricultural information with stakeholders. Students majoring in this field are prepared to report information to consumers, legislators, farmers, and more.
The competition was a career development event where, working as a team as communication consultants, students create a written media plan and present it to a panel of judges. Team members are also evaluated on an individual level.
The event helps students gain and sharpen skills in communication, collaboration, writing, technology, website design, video production, social media, and more.
All four of the team members tied for third place in this state competition, and as a team, they are state champions. They will go on to represent Ohio FFA at the National Agricultural Communications event at the national convention in the fall in Indianapolis, IN,” Schumacher said.
“As their advisor and coach, I am very proud of this team,” Schumacher said. “We placed 2nd in the state in this competition two years in a row. It's very rewarding to see their hard work pay off and finally punch the ticket this year with the state championship win.”
There are always good things happening with the McClain FFA and in the Greenfield Exempted Village School District. To follow along, check out the McClain FFA’s Facebook page, the school district’s Facebook and other social media pages, and the district website at greenfield.k12.oh.us.