In everything she does, Indianola High School senior Gracie Ward is guided by her Christian
faith.
“Faith is a big part of my life,” Ward said. “I do my best to trust God and let him take me through
life in his way, to remember everything happens for a reason and in God’s timing.”
She’s a hometown kid. She stars for the school’s softball team, shows pigs and sheep for the
FFA chapter, and leads the FCA program. Every Wednesday, Ward and several of her
classmates lead an optional small group during lunch where they “all participate and learn about
the word.”

She’s got a tremendous work ethic, too. She got her start showing pigs in the third grade. She
started showing sheep, too, two years later, as well as judging livestock.
“I have had quite a bit of success,” Ward said. “Agriculture and showing is a big part of mine and
my family’s life.”
Ward grew up on a ranch, where she and her family tend to around 200 head of cattle. Her
parents and grandparents on both sides showed livestock before her.
“We all come from a long background in ag. For us, it is more than a hobby, but a lifestyle,”
Ward said. “It has also taught me patience and how to manage responsibilities. I spend many
hours on the field and in the barn, and I have learned how to manage my time and do all the
things I love to the best of my ability.”
But, one thing unique to Ward is her love for her softball.
“I am the first of my family to have such a passion for softball,” Ward said. “Growing up, I played
every sport my school had to offer, and when softball became an option, I knew I had to try it.

We didn’t have many pitchers, so they convinced me to start. I started pitching lessons and fell
in love with it and haven’t stopped since.”
It’s paid off, but there have been challenges along the way.
“There had been multiple times I feel as if I didn’t play my best game or we lost a game I know
we could’ve won,” Ward said.
One of those challenges has been Indianola’s recent rivalry with Crowder. They always go
back-and-forth beating each other. On one occasion, Crowder had the upper hand.
“When we played them, I personally did not hit very well and we ended up losing. I usually
respond by taking the first couple of minutes after the game to replay what happened then I just
have to move on,” Ward said. “You have to move past the failures and strive to get better. All
you can do is practice and work harder.”
Last year, the most recent time they played, Indianola rallied to beat Crowder in districts. Other
than beating a rival, Ward’s favorite things about playing softball have been relationships and
her team’s growth. Indianola’s fast pitch team finished with a winning record and will be back on
the field this spring for slow pitch.
“I love the friendships you make, and I love seeing mine and my team’s hard work pay off,”
Ward said. “Softball is full of failure, but it is also very rewarding.”