JEFF FIELDER Editor
MORRILL – Rylie Mason, a senior at Morrill High School, has been named First State Bank’s Female Student of the Week. She’s involved in basketball, volleyball, speech, National Honor Society, FFA, 4-H, and her youth group at La Grange Bible Church. She also helps with her church’s VBS during the summer. This is Mason’s second year at Morrill High School. Before that, she attended Banner County Public Schools. Her parents are Ryan and Sarah Mason.
Q: Out of all the activities you participate in, which one is your favorite?
MASON: “I would say FFA because that’s what I’m most passionate about. It pertains to my background.”
Q: What do you do in 4-H?
MASON: “I show steers, horses, and pigs, and I also weld.”
Q: How many years have you been involved in 4-H?
MASON: “Since I was 8. I have one more year left.”
Q: How passionate are you about 4-H?
MASON: “I live on a ranch [in Banner County about 25 miles from Morrill], and I start working with my calves when they’re born, and I have them until I sell them. So, I feel like I have a pretty good understanding of that project in 4-H.”
Q: For you, what’s the best part about being involved in 4-H? Is it about placings, or is it about more than that?
MASON: “I don’t really care about winning because I raise home-raised livestock, so I care more about what I can do with the project and how well I can improve.”
Q: Have you learned quite a bit over the years in 4-H?
MASON: “You learn something every day when you’re in the barn. I think one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that it’s hard to sell an animal that you’ve put so much time into, but you just have to learn to let go. I’ve also learned the value of hard work.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed growing up on a ranch?
MASON: “I’m so thankful that I’ve grown up on a ranch. It’s a huge part of my life.”
Q: What are your plans after high school?
MASON: “My goal is to go to LCCC, and I want to get my paralegal degree, and then I want to transfer to the University of Wyoming to get my law degree.”
Q: Do you see yourself always being involved in ag somehow even though you want to get a law degree?
MASON: “Once I get my law degree, I’ll have money to start my own ranch. I already have a herd of my own, but I want to expand on that. To do that, I’ll need more financial support, so I’ll need a really good job.”
Q: So what are you more passionate about – being a lawyer or ranching?
MASON: “I think deep down, ag is definitely my biggest passion. But I have a passion for law, too. I want to go into law, but I think ag will always be my biggest passion.”
Q: How did you become interested in law?
MASON: “My personality, I think, is the biggest thing. I want justice in the world. I feel like this world is a world full of hate, and just a little bit of help from law can help with that.”
Q: How does it feel to be a senior this year?
MASON: “It’s hard to believe. I’m facing a lot of ‘lasts.’ Like in volleyball and basketball, I can’t believe I’m done after this year. It’s hard for me to picture myself living on my own.”
Q: Are you excited for college, or are you a little sad that your high school career is almost over?
MASON: “I don’t really want it to end, but at the same time, I know I need to move on.”
Q: What is your favorite class this year?
MASON: “Probably my ag class, but I really love math classes. I’m not taking any [math classes] this year, but college Algebra was super fun last year.”
Q: During your educational career, which teacher has made the biggest influence on you?
MASON: “There’s a couple. At Banner County, it was Mr. [Bill] Gifford. I think he’s been the biggest inspiration for me. He kind of sparked my passion for ag, and he’s a really down-to-Earth kind of guy. He’s easy to learn from. Another person is Craig Hall [an English teacher at Morrill]. He’s not like some teachers who just give you work and it’s a super easy grade. I actually have to work hard for his class. I like the challenges that he gives me.”
Q: Outside of your school activities, what do you like to do for fun?
MASON: “I rodeo in the summer, so that’s one of my bigger things.”
Q: Do you participate in the high school rodeo season?
MASON: “No, I just do jackpots in the summer because that’s the only time I can do that since I’m so busy during the school year.”
Q: How long have you been involved in rodeo?
MASON: “Since I was 8 probably.”
Q: What rodeo events do you participate in?
MASON: “I do barrels, poles, and goat tying.”
Q: In your opinion, who do you think is the kindest person at Morrill High School?
MASON: “Probably Jayden Harvey. He’s a senior, too. He always makes it a point every day to say ‘Hi’ to me and ask me how my day is going.”
Q: What kind of music do you enjoy listening to?
MASON: “I listen to country, Christian, pop – pretty much anything.”
Q: What’s your favorite restaurant in this area?
MASON: “Sam and Louie’s.”
Q: What do you like to order there?
MASON: “The meat lover’s calzone.”
Q: Name one person who you think is a big difference-maker in your community.
MASON: “I would say Mrs. [Krystal] Caudill. She’s my ag teacher at Morrill. We do fundraisers – not to put our name out there but just to help the community. She doesn’t care about the promotion that we get; she just does it for the needs of the community. So, she’s a good inspiration to me. She shows that community service isn’t for promotion but rather just for doing good things for other people.”
Q: For you, how important are grades, and how much does it mean to you to be in National Honor Society?
MASON: “Grades are extremely important. Slacking off isn’t something that I do, and I don’t think others should do that, either.”
Q: How much have you enjoyed growing up in this area?
MASON: “I love this area. I would like to come back here after college because my family is here, and family is a big part of my life.”
Q: What is one place around here that you would recommend someone visit?
MASON: “I would say the Wildcats, like hiking in the Wildcats. It’s a fun experience. When I was little, we used to hike in the Wildcats all the time.”
Q: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
MASON: “Yes, I have four younger siblings [Makyla, 15; Logan, 11; Shawnie, 9; Saryah, 3] and two older brothers [Cody, 20; Colton, 24].”
If you would like to nominate someone for Nspire Today!’s Students of the Week, sponsored by First State Bank, you may do so by sending an email to jeff.fielder@nspiretoday.com or by mailing a letter to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. Nominations may also be submitted by sending a text to 308-220-8865.
In addition to being recognized online, students of the week will also be recognized in Nspire Today! magazine. To sign up for a one-year subscription (12 issues) to the magazine, please send $15 to Nspire Today!, P.O. Box 454, Scottsbluff, NE 69363. To pay with a credit card, please call 308-220-8865. If you would like to increase your subscription to $20, Nspire Today! will donate the extra $5 in September to the Irrigation Disaster Relief Fund.
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