Palmyra FFA: Service in Adversity

This article was written for Marissa's FFA Reporter in the USA position. She was presented with the prompt: "Describe a chapter, member, or alumni who embodies the FFA motto "Living to Serve."" This article will be published on the National FFA website, with the potential to be printed in National FFA's publication.

Marissa L. Gottman

As FFA members, we are unified by the trademark blue corduroy jacket. Our blood runs National Blue and Corn Gold. Thousands of students, educators, and alumni, all connected by the motto, “Living To Serve".

But sometimes, tragedy strikes. Trials shake our households, communities, and souls. But in the wake of hardship, Palmyra FFA didn’t crumble—they united.

The Beginning of JT's Journey

On the night of September 12th, the Macon High School football field went quiet. The claps ceased. Chants died in fans’ throats. The entire stadium held their breath as medics rushed to assist Palmyra FFA member JaTayvion Thomas—lovingly known as “JT”. The minutes crawled by, murmured prayers whistling through the chilly night. Palmyra and Macon fans alike tracked JT’s #4 jersey across the field and into the back of a wailing ambulance.

The emergency sirens faded into the inky night.

The silence lingered.

As the hours passed, the news spread. JT sustained a fracture in his C4-C5 vertebrae—the nerves correlating to shoulder motion, diaphragm function, and sensation in the upper body (Cleveland Clinic). After multiple surgeries, JT was stabilized in the ICU at Columbia Missouri’s University Hospital.

But his entire community was reeling.

For a wholesome moment, the divide of school rivalries vanished. The entire state wept for JT, the high school senior facing a trial beyond comprehension. Palmyra and the surrounding towns united in #4’s honor, conducting prayer vigils and expressing their unwavering support.

Among those pillars of service was the Palmyra FFA Chapter.

Living To Serve

For the Palmyra High agricultural program, JT is more than a name on a roster. He’s a smile in rowdy classrooms, a joke floating down the hallway, and a grinning candidate on the Barnwarming Court. The incident disquieted every FFA member—but it wouldn't stop them from supporting their fellow Future Farmer.

Palmyra FFA did what they do best: serve. The chapter devised a plan—a benefit trapshoot and silent auction.

Palmyra FFA Advisors Amanda Haeberlin and Luke Mahsman oversaw every detail of the fundraiser. They contacted businesses, set dates, rallied volunteers, and spread the word on social media. Haeberlin explained, “The trapshoot was an opportunity for us to show JT how much we love and miss him, and a way to involve the community in his recovery.”

The “4-JT’s Journey Trapshoot” was an overwhelming success. The chapter hosted 100+ shooters and more than 25 volunteers. In total, over $4,000 was donated to the Thomas family. These funds are joined by thousands of dollars raised by PHS and the surrounding school districts.

The Road Ahead

Currently, JT is making astounding strides in his recovery. The next chapter in his journey is entering a top-rated physical therapy program. Palmyra FFA’s #4 is embraced by a mighty lattice of support, prayers, and overflowing love. JT’s story is not a tragedy—it’s a testimony. One of faith, community, and service.

JT’s Journey illustrates that in times of hardship, we must embody the core of FFA: Living To Serve.

Photo Credits: Alicia Deming Photography