Mary Schalk will never forget the destruction she witnessed in Kentucky in December 2021.
The Barren County High School junior heard news reports about the tornado-ravaged western Kentucky communities of Mayfield, Princeton, Dawson Springs and Bremen. Looking down from the cockpit of her 1952 Beechcraft Bonanza as she prepared to land at the Mayfield Graves County Airport, the impact of the natural disaster came into perspective.
“It shocked me. I’d never seen anything like that,” she recalls. “It kind of tore me apart.”
Flying airplanes has been a part of Schalk’s life since her father and uncle started flying when she was in kindergarten. She has been certified to fly solo or with another pilot since early 2021.
“I have always loved everything about flying and the different perspective you have on life and the world,” Schalk says.
Schalk made her first one-hour flight to the Kentucky communities impacted by the tornadoes on Dec. 12, 2021, just 48 hours after the storm.
The Barren County FFA member was one of several pilots who delivered supplies. Her plane was loaded with bottled water, nonperishable foods, clothing, toiletries and other donated items.
She made two additional trips, delivering more supplies to Madisonville, Ky., on Dec. 14 and bringing Christmas gifts to affected communities on Dec. 22. Each time, she met local residents, heard their stories and felt inspired to continue helping.
“My dad always told me to lead by example. I’m someone who’s not going to talk about it — I’m going to go do something and have the proof that I did it,” she says. “I think having the mindset that I needed to react quickly and needed to do something because there were so many people hurting really pushed me and gave me the confidence to go out there.”
Inspiration Takes Flight
In helping communities in western Kentucky, Schalk also inspired her FFA chapter to step up.
“I think me personally going out and helping the people who were affected by the tornadoes really brought our chapter together because the members realized we can have an impact and make a difference,” she says. “After I took the initiative, they added to it and said, ‘This is what our FFA chapter is doing.’”
Barren County FFA advisor Andy Moore says Schalk’s volunteerism following the tornadoes had a ripple effect.
“I think what Mary did let her fellow FFA members know that students can take charge and have a passion and stand out there on their own limb and make something happen,” he says. “I’ve never known a farmer or an agriculturist in my life who just admits defeat. When there’s not a way, you make a way, and I wouldn’t expect anything different from our FFA members.”
In addition to collecting donations for Schalk to deliver to storm-torn communities, the Barren County FFA Chapter decided to donate extra fruit from their fundraiser to residents in Bowling Green where the tornadoes had a major impact.
Moore and his fellow agricultural education teachers loaded a cattle trailer full of fruit and embarked on a road trip to get it into the hands of those in need. It was delivered to a school that served as temporary housing for tornado victims.
“Even though the ag teachers helped make that happen, the FFA members encouraged it, they were in favor of it, it was their fundraiser,” Moore says. “When young kids have ambition and they create the initiative to go do something, that’s a big attention-getter.”
Blue Skies Ahead
Schalk had the support of her family, FFA advisors and chapter members — plus her desire to make a difference — to motivate her to continue giving back to storm-torn communities. In the process, Moore believes she became an inspiration to her fellow FFA members, her community and a much wider audience who heard about a high school student piloting a plane solo to deliver supplies following the tornadoes.
“Mary’s story is much bigger than a 16-year- old and an airplane and a tornado,” Moore says. “Young people will read her story and feel encouraged. Older people will read her story and feel reassured that the FFA spirit is as strong as ever.
“Mary could have sat back, could have talked herself out of it, could have just thought about it, could have just planned on doing something, but Mary just did it,” he adds. “She got in that plane and made it happen.”
Schalk appreciates the accolades, but recognition is not her goal. Instead, she hopes that exemplifying the “Living to Serve” motto encourages others to do the same.
“I want people to realize that natural disasters are going to happen and there’s not much we can do to stop them. If you’re available and you have the resources to help, be there to help as much as you can,” she says. “Try not to be intimidated by the situation. Gather your courage and go in there with a smiling face because sometimes that’s all people need: a smiling face and some kind of hope.”
Kentucky Chapters Pitch In
FFA chapters across Kentucky stepped up to help communities affected by the storms.
The Nicholas County FFA Chapter partnered with Future Business Leaders of America and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapters for a “Donating Dollars” event to raise money and gift cards for storm-ravaged communities. The event raised more than $2,100.
“The assistance others showed our community warranted our assistance to those impacted in western Kentucky,” says Cameron Earlywine, agricultural education teacher and Nicholas County FFA advisor.
At Seneca High School in Louisville, Ky., members of the Seneca FFA Chapter collected donations, including flashlights, headlamps, batteries, work gloves, socks, blankets, towels, sheets and other items from students, staff, community members and local businesses for storm-ravaged communities.
“After seeing the devastation, our students knew that we had to do something in order to assist those who were affected by the tornadoes,” says Kristan Wright, Seneca FFA advisor. “Once we dropped our items off, the shelter was so full that it couldn’t take in more items.”
The Caldwell County FFA Chapter in Princeton, Ky., experienced the effects of the storms firsthand. Several teachers, students and families lost everything. Students helped with cleanup efforts, baked cookies to deliver to workers and distributed gift cards and supplies from other FFA chapters nationwide.
“I never once asked the students to show up. They were always willing to help, stay late and work hard in all conditions and they put in some exhausting hours,” says Caldwell County FFA advisor Magen Woods. “They worked right through the holidays and never complained. I’ve never been so proud of my students as I was after the Dec. 10 tornado.”
