Arkansas student named FFA national finalist: American Star Award in Agribusiness

ARKANSAS ( KTAL/KMSS ) — One Magnolia, Arkansas High School graduate has received national recognition for her entrepreneurship. Maggie McDonald, now a student at Oklahoma State University, has been named one of four finalists for the FFA's American Star Award in Agribusiness.

She started her lab M2 Genetics and Testing at 15 years old, after learning the lab she and her father usually worked with would no longer be available.

"I thought about this for a few days, and I went back to my Dad and I thought 'Why can't I open my own lab? What's stopping me?'"

A week after she initially received equipment to launch her new lab, the Covid-19 pandemic hit. But according to McDonald, the timing actually worked in her favor.

"Covid-19 did not do anything but help me," she explained. "Farmers and ranchers did not stop, so my lab was able to open up."

She officially opened up M2 Genetics and Testing for business in March of 2020. The lab has customers in 10 states and has run about 8,000 blood tests since opening.

For McDonald, it means a lot to be able to represent Arkansas and FFA.

"Arkansas FFA has done so much for me and offered me so many opportunities, and Arkansas's FFA has been able to support me through all my steps," she told KTAL.

Now, she studies Animal Science at Oklahoma State University, and hopes to get her Masters in Reproduction.

M2 Genetics and Testing is not taking new customers at the moment, as McDonald is currently focused on her studies. However, she hopes to broaden her business after she gets her degree.