Madelin Garcia Joins Jackson County Times as Intern
By: Shelia Mader
The Jackson County Times is proud to welcome Madelin Garcia as our newest intern. A dedicated student, agricultural leader, and aspiring journalist, Madelin brings with her a wealth of experience, passion, and perspective that we know will enrich our pages in the weeks to come.
Madelin, a senior at Marianna High School, currently serves as the President of the Marianna High School FFA Chapter and also holds the esteemed title of District 2 FFA President, a role that speaks to her deep commitment to agriculture and leadership.
“I’ve been in FFA since the sixth grade,” Garcia shared during her interview. “It’s a big part of who I am.” She’s involved in both Leadership Development Events (LDEs) and Career Development Events (CDEs), two competitive pillars of the FFA program. Her favorite event is Extemporaneous Public Speaking. “I have 30 minutes to write a speech on a random agricultural topic. It challenges me and fuels my passion for communication,” she explained.
Her CDEs reflect her hands-on knowledge of agriculture, including poultry judging, vegetable judging, Horticulture, and even showing hogs and chickens at various events throughout the region.
Looking ahead, Madelin has her eyes on a bigger stage. “I hope to be a Florida FFA State Officer after my senior year,” she said. “I’ll go through screening in April and, if all goes well, will be elected in June.” From there, she plans to attend Florida State University, where she will pursue a degree in journalism with a focus on sports journalism.
Madelin is the only child of Dominic and Averi Garcia, who have supported her every step of the way.
While at the Times, Madelin will be covering FFA news, agriculture education, and rural youth involvement in farming. Her passion and firsthand experience will offer readers an authentic voice on topics that deeply affect our community.
If there’s a specific story, topic, or individual in the agriculture or FFA world you’d like to see featured, please let us know. We are thrilled to have Madelin on board and can’t wait to share her insights with our readers. Welcome to the team, Madelin!