State Representative Wayne Rosenthal passed House Resolution 882 on May 14 honoring Molly McCalla of Staunton for earning the 2025 National Agricultural Proficiency Award in Sheep Production, which is the highest national recognition for excellence in agricultural entrepreneurship and supervised agricultural experience.
The recognition highlights the achievements of young leaders in agriculture and their importance to Illinois’ agricultural economy. The award places McCalla among the nation’s top young agricultural leaders and marks a significant accomplishment within the National FFA Organization.
“I am proud to recognize Molly McCalla and the honor she brings to Illinois and the FFA program with her National Agriculture Proficiency Award in 2025, followed by her State FFA Award in 2026,” said Wayne Rosenthal, a farmer himself. “Molly’s accomplishments highlight the critical role of youth leadership in advancing agricultural innovation, sustainability, and stewardship, which are essential to Illinois’ multibillion-dollar agricultural economy.”
Rosenthal said that this national honor reflects achievement at the highest level within FFA. In addition to her national award, McCalla earned the Illinois FFA Agricultural Proficiency Award for Diversified Livestock Production through work with poultry egg production, Angus cattle operations, and sheep enterprise. She is a senior member of Staunton FFA Organization and was named a recipient of Murray State University Presidential Fellowship Scholarship in Kentucky.
“Thank you to Molly’s FFA advisors – John Davin, Spencer Laughlin, and Maggie McCalla – who deserve credit for helping to educate and encourage Molly as she pursues excellence in agriculture,” Rosenthal said.
Rosenthal was elected as a Republican to represent Illinois’ 108th House District in 2023 after replacing Charles Meier as state representative, according to AFSA Online.
