Dr. Myles Hebrard receives his honorary Hollow Rock-Bruceton FFA jacket from Chapter President Allie Paschall.
When life threw challenges his way, Dr. Myles Hebrard found strength in FFA. The lessons he learned in the classroom, showing at the local fair and participating in public speaking opportunities helped shape the resilient leader he is today. Those experiences carried him through difficult times growing up, and instilled a strong work ethic that continues to guide him as superintendent of the Hollow Rock-Bruceton Special School District.
As a student, FFA became more than an activity. It was a foundation through the school garden, competitions and showing animals. He developed skills and confidence that would one day propel him into a leadership role in education. His hard work and dedication earned him a State FFA Degree from Ohio, and eventually the American Farmer Degree — signaling years of commitment to agricultural education and leadership.
Today, that same passion fuels his vision for students with the Hollow Rock-Bruceton FFA Chapter. Drawing on his own experiences, he has prioritized the creation and growth of an agricultural education program, ensuring students have access to the same opportunities that helped shape his own life.
“Dr. H,” as the students, parents and faculty members call him, moved to Ohio during the last two weeks of his freshman year. At that point in the year, he had the option to skip the last two weeks of school, but his guidance counselor placed him in agriculture classes, which began his FFA journey.
He said one of the biggest skills he gained from FFA was learning to speak confidently in front of others. Although he competed in several speaking contests and joked that he always came in last place, those experiences built his confidence over time. He once thought he’d never be a public speaker, but now he feels comfortable talking to any crowd, all because someone once said, “Hey, I need you to go do this.”
He never lived on a farm, never had a barn in his family’s name and he was not the traditional student that you would expect in the FFA program. Coming from a low income family, he said the state degree and American Farmer Degree were two huge accomplishments in his life. The American Farmer Degree was earned from his hard work hand-digging gardens and growing fruit and vegetables for his community. He also learned to show pigs at the local fair.
When asked about his inspiration for starting the Hollow Rock-Bruceton FFA Chapter, he said, “We live in an agricultural area and all of those things open doors for youth to get involved. You never know what is going to spark a young person to get involved and what doors might open.”
His advice to current FFA members reflects his journey in life. Never quit — start by just showing up and being present, engaged, professional, kind and better each day. No matter what your journey is, someone has had it harder. He hopes his journey inspires and mentors people one day.
