For some farm kids, showing livestock at competitions is a big part of the summer. But a farm at Republic High School opened those opportunities to even more students this year for the first time.
The Republic FFA chapter organized two livestock teams – one showing cattle and one showing pigs. Because the animals belonged to the farm at the high school, some FFA students were able to get involved who otherwise wouldn’t. The students exhibited at several shows, including in Lawrence County, Greene County, Purdy in Barry County, and at the Ozark Empire Fair.
Kendall Sullivan became involved in showing cattle for the first time partly to be involved with his friends.
“What I liked about it was the dedication. It’s not just something that you just show up to once in a while. It was something you had to work your butt off for,” he said. “It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There was times I was being drug halfway across a pasture just trying to halter break my heifer.”
The work involved taught Sullivan to pay attention to small details.
“Taking your time and not rushing and being sloppy is something that I definitely learned going through this. There are the smallest things that you need to take into consideration when you are in that ring, and those things are the things that cost you a win or a loss,” he said.
Ella Law also particpated for the first time, showing pigs. She said ag teacher Cody Stewart “pulled me out of class and asked me, ‘Would you like to show a pig?’ At first, I didn’t know what to think of it because I’ve never done it before and really only know about horses. I am glad that I did, because I had the best summer because of it.”
Law said she’d recommend exhibiting livestock to anyone who would like to work with animals and wants to try something new. Her pig, Otis, placed second in Berkshire class at Ash Grove and was champion at the show at Republic High School. She said she learned “that taking your time and having a big responsibility comes in handy… with animals or anything you work with.”
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