One standout senior from MadillHighSchoolismaking waves in the local community with her impressive achievements in agriculture and her aspirations for the future. Meet 17-year-old Ashton Elredge, a passionate student who has made the most of her time at Madill since joining as a sophomore.
Elredge is heavily involved in 4-H and beekeeping, two activities that have not only enriched her high school experience but also fostered her love for agriculture.
Her dedication to 4-H has earned her accolades, including best of breed for her pigs and first place for both her working honey frame and jar of honey at the Marshall County Fair. These impressive wins propelled her to the state fair, where she secured first place with her working honey frame and sixth place with her jar of honey.
One of Elredge's most cherished memories comes from her time in 4-H, where she experienced the joys of breeding her champion gilt and watching her give birth to future show pigs. Her beekeeping journey has also been noteworthy; she was recently awarded the title of Oklahoma Junior Beekeeper of the Year. This recognition highlights her hard work and dedication to the craft, as she participated in a beginners beekeeping class and successfully managedherstarter box of bees.
Looking ahead, Elredge said she intends to attend Southern Tech to pursue a degree in graphic design, with aspirations to further her studies in psychology. Her goal is to help children with autism, a calling that reflects her compassionate nature and desire to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.
Elredge expressed heartfelt gratitude to her teachers.
'Thankyoutoallmyteachers who didn't give up on me. Without your help, I wouldn't have made it to senior year,' she said.
She said her appreciation extends to her house parents and biological parents, as well.
'I'm so happy for getting to be your daughter,' she said with enthusiasm. 'For the last seven and a half years, you have done nothing but love me, even when I wasn't the nicest.'
Toheryoungerclassmates, Elredge offered some real talk mixed with encouragement: 'School is gonna stink,' she said with a laugh. 'There is no sugar coating it. Some days are gonna be great. Others are gonna make you want to just go home and go to bed, but don't give up.'