Interview with a Chamber Winner: Maddie Dollarhide

Maddie Dollarhide. Photograph courtesy of Sarah B. Anderson

By Morgan Olson

The Dalles Area Chamber of Commerce recently awarded Maddie Dollarhide the Outstanding Youth Award.
The awards ceremony, formally titled the 2022 Distinguished Citizen Award Banquet, was just livestreamed tonight, Thursday, Jan. 27. You can watch it here. 
Maddie found out about the award on Wednesday, Jan 19th, and was pleasantly surprised when she was told the news by teachers and family.
I recently caught up with the Senior at Dufur High School to ask her some questions about herself, and she gladly agreed.

Morgan Olson (MO): Who are some people in your life that have inspired or helped you? Teachers?

Maddie Dollarhide(MD): There are countless people who inspire me day in and day out. Some that stand out would be my parents for always showing me the example of giving back to your community and those around you, my grandmother who is the pinnacle of strength, love, and living life to the fullest, friends for keeping things fun and showing me new perspectives, all of my teachers, in particular, Ms. Rebecca Boles who is my FFA advisor and ag teacher. She is the reason that I got so involved in FFA and I would not be where I am today without her or anyone's support. While I may be one person, there is a whole army of amazing people who support me and I could not be more grateful for them, they all deserve a piece of the award.

MO: Do you have any future goals or aspirations?

MD: Looking to my future, short term goals consist of getting a state officer position in FFA. I have submitted my application, and then in March, I will go through a vigorous series of interviews. If elected I will travel around the state for a year as an advocate for agriculture and spreading awareness about the organization and I hope to inspire as many members as I can. Looking long term I want to get my college degree at Oklahoma State in Agribusiness and ag communications, with a minor in animal science and ag leadership. Where I will land with those degrees I am not entirely sure, but I would love a job in business agriculture where I am able to be making a difference and advocating for the industry. I plan on getting my veterinary technician certification so I can continue my love for animal health.

From The Dalles Veterinary Hospital Facebook Page on Aug. 20, 2020 - Congratulations to our employee, Maddie Dollarhide, Champion Sr. Showman and Reserve Class Champion Market Steer.

MO: Was it a surprise getting this award? How have you worked for it? What made you stand out and how did you find out about it?

MD: Oh my gosh, it was a total surprise; it was the last thing I had expected. School administration, teachers, and my parents all surprised me at the school after Mrs. Whitley had set up a fake meeting to get me out there. I was speechless. I had never planned on working for it, I hardly knew it existed, and I never would have thought that I would be awarded it. Throughout high school, I have always gone by taking every opportunity and embracing it to the fullest. For example, planning for National Convention, I knew that my teammates and I wanted to go, so I wanted to work as hard as I could to make it possible for us to attend and get that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If a positive experience will result from an opportunity for myself, my teammates, friends and family I will put my whole heart into working for it. I think what made me stand out was having such a strong passion for all that I am involved in, many people my age are in a transformational stage of life still trying to figure out what they want to do and where they want to go. I was extremely lucky to find what I am passionate about at a young age.

MO: How did being dedicated and driven help their decision?

MD: I think we often hear how teenagers “just aren’t the same as they used to be” in regards to hard work and drive. For me being dedicated and driven is just part of my lifestyle. I have grown up working for what you want; life won’t hand you everything and if you want something bad enough you have to put in the time and energy. I can say with confidence that if I slacked off and didn’t stay driven and focused, I would not be In the same place that I am today. I have been fortunate enough to find my passion for the ag industry and FFA in high school, that passion has helped drive me to put myself out there and go for what I want. As for helping their decision, I think I drew the lucky straw because there are tons of great youth out there who are just as deserving of the award as I am. I have just been lucky enough to be involved in a way that gets me out.

MO: Tell me about yourself, your life.

MD: I have attended Dufur school since my freshman year of high school, since then I found my passion in the ag classroom for all things leadership and agriculture. I often find myself in a mix of those things, from various leadership events to showing cattle all across the state. Not only will you find me in the barnyard with multiple market and breeding projects, but you can also find me at a piano bench. I have played piano since first grade, and it has been a huge part of my life. My love for pets (we have 6 dogs, 4 cats, herd of cattle and sheep, as well as horses) extends past my home and into my job. I work at a local vet clinic where I not only get to work with animals, I also get to learn a multitude of vet care and animal science.

This story is sponsored by :

The Dalles Iron Works

Welding, Machining & Fabrication Since 1905 at 720 E. 2nd St., The Dalles.

Jon Keyser and his crew can solve your problems big or small, ranging from the manufacture of ornate iron gates to repairing heavy equipment. His team includes wife Holly and son Jon Jr. who have spent years dedicating themselves to community good, most notably on the Dufur Volunteer Fire & Ambulance.