Pulaski County has been active with the Future Farmers of America (FFA) since before the current high school existed. There has also been a long history of Pulaski County students earning accolades and success through the FFA. That tradition of success will continue now with a PCHS graduate selected to serve as a State Vice President.
Gabriella Martin, a PCHS graduate from the Class of 2022, was one of five Vice Presidents elected to office. The elections for the 2022-23 school year were conducted at the FFA State Convention, held at Virginia Tech. At the election the group also selected a State President, Secretary, Treasurer, Reporter, and Sentinel.
Martin first joined the FFA during her eighth-grade year, with Mrs. Jenny Simmons as her advisor. Upon moving to PCHS, Martin joined the high school FFA Chapter under the direction of Sarah Jo Jones and Alison Jones. During her later years in the group, her advisors were Carley Pavan-Ballard and Tori Alley.
In her home chapter, Martin has served in a variety of leadership roles, including Secretary, President, and Student Advisor. She earned her Star Greenhand in FFA during her freshman year.
“I have competed in several Career Development events such as Livestock Judging, Floriculture, and Dairy Evaluation,” Martin said. “I competed in a leadership development event this year called Prepared Public Speaking.”
While competing in a public speaking event may not seem like a big deal for someone who has served in so many leadership positions, at the time Martin was still relatively new to the group and learning.
“I used to be the shy timid kid who couldn't speak in front of a crowd without my knees shaking and through FFA I was able to grow and can now speak in front of thousands of people,” she said.
Being so deeply involved with the FFA also offered Martin the opportunity to reach out and expose other students to FFA and the agriculture program at PCHS.
“Through my home chapter I became very involved in taking my animals to the schools so that students could learn more about livestock,“ she said.
Martin took her sheep and goats to each of the school in Pulaski County to help bridge the gap between the Pulaski County community and the agriculture programs. She was also deeply involved in the group’s conservation efforts in Pulaski County. She volunteered her time with the Sensory Trail, Trout in the Classroom, and Native Ell Grass projects that served the students of Pulaski County, Claytor Lake, and other surrounding areas.
“FFA taught me to always be myself and that I can always overcome any obstacles I set my mind to,” Martin said. “As the Appalachian Area State Vice President my duties will be to work closely with the President, supervise committees, and assume duties in the absence of the President if necessary.”
To be eligible to run for a state officer position, you must be a graduating senior when you in your application and you must have held an officer position in your home chapter. You also must have a high-level SAE (Supervised Agriculture Experience) which she did with her sheep and goats. You also must earn all degree levels which is Greenhand, Chapter and State Degree. These are the different levels that FFA chapter members can achieve over their time in school.
State Officers travel across the Commonwealth to attend meetings that focus on agriculture and are the state representatives for Ag teachers and programs, as well as the Agriculture industry. They conduct leadership workshops throughout the year.
The Vice President in the FFA is stationed by the Plow. The Plow is a symbol of labor and tillage of the soil.
“I am so thankful for the opportunity to grow, and I hope to encourage younger members to overcome any obstacles in their lives and help them be their true selves,” Martin said.
“It has been an honor to serve as Gabriella’s agriculture teacher and FFA Advisor,” Carley Pavan-Ballard said. “Watching her grow over the years made it clear that this was the path she needed to take and even though she didn’t see it yet, I did. I knew that with hard work, determination, and a gentle nudge in the right direction, Gabriella could become a Virginia State Officer and she did just that. I am extremely proud of the young lady she has grown to be and the leader she continues to become. I look forward to watching her as she takes on this new adventure and know she will do her county proud. Congratulations Gabriella on your accomplishments thus far, continue to overcome any and all obstacles that you may be faced with.”
“Gabriella had always been a smart, hardworking, and driven young lady,” Tori Alley said. “Watching her grow as a person and a leader has been such a privilege. She has spent countless hours preparing for this moment, and I have no doubt she will serve Virginia FFA well and make Pulaski County very proud! I can't wait to see all of the adventures she will go on while in office!”
Martin, the daughter of Kennith and Eva Martin of Dublin, was selected as the PCHS Senior of the Month in January and graduated with High Honors with her classmates. She has collected hundreds of community service hours while serving her school, her church, and her community.