Recognizing that fifth graders are at a pivotal place in their lives when it comes to
planning for the future, Marietta Elementary Counselor Heather McMahon and teacher
Shaylin Nutter Haworth coordinated the school’s second Future Fair.
“Sometimes fifth graders think they know what they want to be when they grow up, but
they don’t always know what’s really out there for them to choose from,” said McMahon.
“That’s why it’s important for us to bring in people from all different careers and let them
talk to our students about what they do.”
The event was held in the elementary gym on March 27. The students were divided into
small groups, and each group visited stations set up in the space where they could
learn and ask questions about the different careers represented.
“We try to invite people with connections to the school system. As much as possible, we
try to stick with Marietta High School graduates because we want our students to see
how many Marietta alumnus have attended this school and then gone out into the world
and done great things with their lives,” McMahon explained. “It’s important to us that we
show our students that an education from Marietta is one that can take you places – it’s
something to be proud of.”
If anybody knows that, it’s McMahon and Nutter Haworth, both of whom are MHS
graduates.
The presenters talk to students about setting goals, college, trade school, careers, and
all kinds of other things that are important to kids when they are planning their futures.
And students are allowed to ask questions about things that pique their interests.
“One of the reasons that we love having Marietta grads come for this event is because
they are relatable to the kids,” noted Nutter Haworth. “They can talk to our students
about the programs, classes, and teachers who were important to them and helped
them to succeed.”
KorDale Lornes, Red River Valley REA’s Vice President of Marketing and Member
Services, and a member of the Class of 2008, attended his second Future Fair this year.
“It was a pleasure to attend the Future Fair for the second year in a row,” said Lornes.
“Tyler Monson, one of our linemen who is a Marietta alum, and I enjoy getting to see the
excitement in the kids’ eyes when they try on linemen gloves and see them make the
connection that these linemen that work in unfavorable conditions are like superheroes
for keeping their lights on!
“It’s a good feeling to see the kids our younger cousins of people I went to school with at
Marietta. This even is something that I think every school could benefit from because it
exposes the students to so many different industries at such a young age.”
Also joining Lornes and Monson returning to their old stomping grounds were Trey
Mayes, local agriculturalist; Gentry Mayes, nurse; Quentin Bucher, Lighthorse Police
Officer; Mark Segler, home builder; Rachel Testerman, insurance agent; and Sam Milo,
barber. Additionally, representatives from Love County EMT, Marietta Police
Department, Lighthouse Behavioral Health, Love County OSU Extension Office, and
Murray State College were on hand, as well as Jamie Bruce from Bruce’s Rollin’ Smoke
and Austin Ludwyck from Ludwyck Taxidermy.
Not to be forgotten, Brandi Naylor, Superintendent of Marietta Public Schools, had a
booth providing students with information about careers in education that are available
in their own school. Also present for the Future Fair were members of the MPS Board of
Education, Judy Sanchez-Fernandez, Allen Woody, Denice Halstied, Brett Harris, and
Megan Wilson.
“I think it’s great that the elementary is sponsoring this Future Fair,” Wilson said. “By the
time kids get to high school, many of them have already made up their minds, so getting
this information to them now opens up all kinds of possibilities for them that they might
not have otherwise. Ms. McMahon does a great job with this event.”
No doubt about it, the 2026 Future Fair was another success.
“Our hope for this fair is to expose our students to information about careers that they
might not already know about, and to make those careers real to them,” McMahon
explained. “We want the kids to be able to see a real person who is living a career and
can share their experiences with them. Our hope is that something students learned
today can help them make a good choice about their future.”