SYMMES VALLEY — A Symmes Valley High School student’s public speaking skills have won her recognition at the state level.

Maddy Callaway, 15, took part in the Future Farmers of America’s public speaking competition, taking the top spot at the district level. She then moved on to compete with 20 students at the state completion in Columbus, where she took fourth place.

In addition to FFA at the school, the ninth grader serves on the Lawrence County Junior Fair Board. She said she chose embryology as the topic for her presentation, and was drawn to the biology field because of the cattle her family keeps.

“It’s a speech between five to seven minutes,” she said. “You’re literally not allowed anything, except yourself. No notes.”

This is the second year Callaway has taken part in the event. Last year, she competed in the job interview contest, in which participants have to present themselves to a hypothetical employer. She came in eighth at the state level in that competition.

Beth Myers, a teacher and FFA advisor at the school, worked with Callaway in preparing her for the competition.

“I’m very proud of her,” she said. “She did an awesome job.”