MAGGIE MCDONALD RECOGNIZED AS STUDENT OF THE YEAR
Magnolia High School senior, Maggie McDonald, was named the Student of the Year at the annual Magnolia-Columbia County Chamber of Commerce banquet held March 30. Along with the recognition of her outstanding accomplishments, Maggie was awarded a one hundred fifty dollar scholarship from People’s Bank to be used at a college or university of her choice.
Many of Maggie’s achievements come from her work in the Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization and her contributions to animal science. Maggie has won several Grand Champion awards showing her sheep and goats at the local, state, and national level. She was recognized at the 2022 Arkansas Farm Bureau Purple Circle Induction with nine purple circles, the most ever awarded to a single student. Maggie represented the state of Arkansas at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, IN. and was recognized during the Fifth General Session at the 95th National FFA Convention.
Besides showing livestock, Maggie runs her own animal blood testing business. She started M2 Genetics and Testing in 2020 and it functions as a laboratory service where Maggie tests the blood of ruminant animals to see if female animals are pregnant thirty days post breeding.
The Magnolia School Board also recognized Maggie’s outstanding achievements at the December 12 Board meeting. Maggie will graduate as a completer and concentrator in the Agribusiness and Animal Science pathways through the MHS agriculture department and will continue her love for agriculture as she seeks a degree in Animal Science.