Maureen Harkcom: Highlighting the success of Natalie Loose, an FFA superstar from Adna

I know her — sort of. I had her older twin brothers when I was a teacher, and I had met, but not really gotten to know, her and her two other siblings (she is one of triplets).

Her mother worked for the school district and the family lives about 2 miles beyond my place, up the valley, where they raise hogs and beef.

But when I heard that FFA had awarded Natalie Loose an American Degree, I wanted to do an article about her and give her the praise she so rightly deserves, not just to fade into oblivion after receiving and earning such high accolades.

So I asked her if I could interview her for an article. She was surprised, but receptive to the idea. We played tag a bit, finding a time that worked for both of us. She is a student at Centralia College, plays on the college’s softball team and has a part-time job at The Farm Store.

I don’t consider myself a professional journalist. I do not have a polished list of “the right questions” to interview someone. I just go with what I feel, what I am curious about. So, I sat down with Natalie Loose and just asked her to tell me her story — to start as a young child and relate her experiences of growing up in 4-H and then FFA, of her tenure with livestock, and where FFA had led her, helped her to become who she is today.

She is the recipient of the highest award FFA bestows upon its members. She is one of about 2,000 nationwide to receive the American Degree.

We sat down at my dining table. She is a striking young lady with red hair, clear eyes that look straight ahead with calm confidence, and a smile that is comforting, reassuring. Her voice just exudes from her body—  no pretentiousness, no aggressiveness, not timid, just a relaxed “this is who I am” presence.

It all shows a calm, a focus, a young lady who knows who she is and what her purpose is. She exhibits confidence, not conceit. I sensed a purpose, a drive, a feeling that this dynamic person is going to leave a positive mark on her world.

She began telling her story by immediately giving credit to her older brother, Christian, and her parents for mentoring her in her early years of 4-H. They taught her about feeding and showing. She alternated between swine and beef, but feels beef is where her heart lies, so she stuck with that through high school, going back to swine during her “gap year” as Washington FFA State Reporter due to all the travel and time commitments. She said COVID-19 had a big impact, putting a damper on her learning. She gave thanks to Jason Speck, who stepped up in her life and took over much of her mentoring as her older brother was no longer at home.

Natalie joined FFA in eighth grade at Adna Middle/High School. She “went through the ranks,” always taking a leadership role. Her freshman year, she was chapter reporter. Sophomore year saw her take on the role of secretary. Junior year, she stepped up as vice president and then, her senior year, she took over the reins as chapter president. Natalie took on district leadership roles as well. Her senior year she was elected state reporter, so she took her “gap year” to fulfill those duties, putting off entering college.

Running for state office was a challenge. She took written tests on parliamentary procedure and on general FFA knowledge. She went through a personal interview as well as an interview on her knowledge of FFA. Natalie took part in an on-stage panel where delegates could ask questions, gave a speech in front of sponsors, advisers, guests, FFA members and delegates, and another speech to the delegates of the chapters from across the state, before they voted.

During the “gap year” the officers were on the road September through the first part of December. They were at a new high school every day getting to know FFA members and talking about agriculture and what FFA offers. The team of officers attended district, regional and state competitions. In the spring they had two business and industry tours — one in Yakima Valley (orchards, onions, John Deere and Kubota dealerships) and one in Sequim (boat builder, Sequim High School hydroponics lab and butcher truck). They also did “the Evergreen Tour” where they visited all nine districts around the state in five days. Lots of road time!

So —  American Degree — I asked what was that process like? It requires completing each FFA degree, in order, one a year. First, Discovery. Second, Greenhand. Third, Chapter. Fourth, State. And fifth, American. Earning the degree means having successfully completed a Supervised Agriculture Experience. Hers was with her livestock. She had to participate in a large number of district and state events and offices. GPA was a factor, along with 50 hours of community service, and honorees must have been out of high school for 12 months. One percent of FFA members (out of 50 states, Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico) ever achieve the American Degree.

It is not for the faint of heart.

My next question was what were the best parts and the worst parts of her FFA experiences. We started with the best — she easily said the road trips. She got to see the state, hang with students with some of the same interests, and have fun, all with a reason for doing it. She got to visit with all the chapters and teach about FFA and what it offers. She was able to share the involvement and opportunities FFA offers — not just agriculture, but also leadership development.

The worst? “Having my switch ON at all times.”

Natalie said that as a member of the state officer team, she did not get a chance to let down and relax. She always had to be in her official role. When they traveled, they would spend the night in the homes of members all over the state. She said that while it was a great experience, it was hard to spend the night in the home of someone she had just met five minutes before, stay up late talking and then get up early the next morning.

She had to be in official dress and “ON” when she walked out of the bedroom door in the morning and then was “ON” all day until she closed the bedroom door the next night. The experience was draining, enjoyable and exhausting.

I asked Natalie if she had “an elevator speech.” She said that was hard as FFA has so many things to offer and sometimes is hard to explain. She said each individual needs to look at FFA and see where they fit in. It offers huge benefits and opportunities for so much personal growth. We agreed an FFA adviser is the backbone of a chapter and that individual can make or break the chapter. Natalie wanted to recognize her FFA adviser—one of the good ones. She said, “Molly Majors is an amazing teacher and has been a huge part of my FFA journey and I would like to give her recognition.”

My last question had to be, so where do you go from here? What are your future plans? Natalie is attending Centralia College and plans to complete her associates degree and then transfer to Washington State University to major in agriculture education. She plans to be an FFA adviser. We talked about the extreme responsibilities and extra duties of being an FFA adviser. She said she has seen how FFA impacted her life and she wants to do that for another student. That is what she wants to do — help them with their personal development, give them those opportunities.

Talking about 2023-2024 as a state officer, Natalie said, “State office gives you a platform. It allows you to be a voice for the state. How you use that voice is what is important.”

She added her experience, in the moment, was not always enjoyable and that she did not truly understand why she wanted to be a state officer until she wrote her retirement address.

She related to me the story of writing her speech, having it approved by state staff and the executive director (including approval by a lawyer), and then getting to convention to have one individual attack her over the content.

She stood firm. She stood for her beliefs. She handled herself with a poise and maturity many of us lack.

Her speech title: “Have Faith in the Process.” Natalie said that God needed her in that position, with that platform, to share the word of Him to thousands. In her speech, she cited John 13:7:    “Jesus answered him, ‘What I am doing you do not know now, but afterward you will understand.’”

She used it to tell 2,500 FFA members that He has a purpose for each of their lives. They need to let go of the small details and focus on the bigger picture. She closed with a prayer and said when finished she heard the loudest “amen” ever.

So, the American Degree? It was the culmination, the recognition of the work of the previous six years. She does not focus on the award. She sees the everyday impact FFA has had on her life. Natalie said FFA is one of the best things she has ever done in her life.

“I’m forever grateful for FFA,” she said.

I watched her retirement address and recommend to anyone who wants to see the good that is within today’s youth — tomorrow’s leaders — a poised and confident young lady just starting on the road to achieving all that she is going to — go to YouTube and search “Retiring Address by 2023-2024 State Reporter, Natalie Loose.”

We all know the old cliché “the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.”

We all can quote an old commercial:

We are in good hands — with Natalie.

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Maureen Harkcom grew up on a Lewis County dairy and operated a beef and native hay operation and developed an equine competition facility. She can be reached by email at maureen.harkcom@gmail.com.