Being born into a family full of farmers is not that unusual in Oklahoma. For Thackerville High School’s Kaitlynn McCage, being part of the FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter is school is somewhat of a family tradition.
“I first got involved in the FFA my freshman year,” said McCage. “My grandparents, parents, and cousins were involved in the FFA, and it encouraged me to do the same. My grandpa raises show pigs, which is a big part of what I do in the FFA.”
Serving a current chapter vice president, McCage said there are many things she enjoys about being part of FFA.
“The thing I enjoy the most about FFA is going to conventions with the FFA chapter. We always make memories that will never be forgotten. I also enjoy showing pigs and going to the shows,” said McCage.
Encouraging others to join FFA comes easy for McCage. The junior offers some great advice for anyone looking to become part of the FFA family.
“If someone were thinking about whether or not they want to join the FFA or not, I would encourage them to do so. There are so many different opportunities for you, and in my opinion, the FFA will teach you things you may never learn in school,” said McCage.
McCage is a three-sport athlete at Thackerville, participating in softball, basketball and cheer. She’s also a member of National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and STUCO.
“What I love the most about softball is the teamwork and all of the memories. A team can’t be successful unless everyone is 100 percent involved,” said McCage. “I love the memories from the car rides to the downtime at a tournament. My teammates are awesome, and they always find ways to make the trips even more fun.”
McCage said her grandfather has played a huge role in her life.
“My Grandpa Shorty has been a huge influence in my life. Being around the barn growing up, farrowing pigs, and working in the barn with all of the pigs has taught me that not everything comes easy to you; you have to work for what you want. You can’t load pigs on a trailer and take them to a show without all the work put into them at home,” said McCage.
