Costello and Paschall honored for leadership and innovation in agricultural education

Two West Tennessee students—Paige Costello of Huntingdon High School and Allie Paschall of Hollow Rock-Bruceton High School recently graduated the prestigious Tennessee Governor’s School for Agricultural Sciences at the University of Tennessee at Martin. Both rising leaders made a lasting impression through their distinct passions and achievements in the field of agriculture.

A senior at Huntingdon High School, Paige Costello has built an impressive résumé that blends her love of animals with a deep commitment to agricultural leadership. With plans to pursue a degree in veterinary science, Paige used her time at Governor’s School to dive deeper into animal health and production systems, further solidifying her goal of becoming a veterinarian.

She has already made a name for herself through extensive project work in horse science, beekeeping, and leadership with Tennessee 4-H, earning multiple accolades along the way. As a proud member of Carroll County 4-H, Paige has shown not only a strong scientific aptitude but also a dedication to community and youth involvement.

“Being surrounded by others who care about agriculture as much as I do was inspiring,” Paige shared. “Governor’s School helped me see how my passion for animal care fits into the bigger picture of agricultural sustainability and public service.” 

In addition to her academic and leadership roles, Paige is also a member of the Huntingdon cross country team and her school’s FFA chapter.

Also representing Hollow-Rock Bruceton Special School District, Allie Paschall is a senior and a standout member of both the Hollow Rock-Bruceton FFA Chapter and the Henry County 4-H Club. Allie attended Governor’s School with an eye on the future: she plans to pursue a degree in agricultural education, with a focus on ag policy and law.

With strong foundations in plant science, citizenship, communications, leadership, and agricultural education, Allie has been recognized by both 4-H and FFA for her extensive project work. Her experience at Governor’s School allowed her to network with like-minded students and explore how agricultural issues intersect with lawmaking, advocacy, and education.

“I want to be a voice for rural communities and help shape the future of agriculture through policy,” Allie said. “Governor’s School gave me new tools to turn that dream into a plan.”

In addition to her academic and leadership roles, Allie is also a member of the Hollow-Rock Bruceton JAG program. 

Though their paths differ, Paige aiming for animal health, Allie focused on agricultural advocacy, both students represent the best of what Tennessee’s youth agricultural programs can produce. Their achievements reflect years of hard work in 4-H and FFA and serve as a model for other young people pursuing careers in the ag industry.

Seeing young leaders like Paige and Allie succeed at this level is exactly what the Governor’s School is all about. They’re not just students, they’re future leaders in agriculture.