TEMPLE, Texas — A large group of Temple High School FFA students is competing in the Bell County Youth Fair and Livestock Show this week (February 4-12) and learning some valuable life lessons along the way. The Youth Fair is giving those students a chance to show animals in competition and participate in several other lifestyle contests over the week, as well.
Nearly 40 members of the THS FFA are competing in this week’s fair. But the hard work and preparation for the event started long ago. Students purchased their show animals anywhere from six months to two years ago and have been working toward this week’s show ever since. The competitors have spent that time feeding, training and working with their animals with the goal of placing well or winning at the youth fair. On the show animal side of the competition, Temple students are showing pigs, sheep, rabbits, goats and cattle.
“I think what makes FFA unique is that the level of competition is so different compared to standard UIL academic and athletic events,” said Kristi Branton, co-sponsor of the Temple HS FFA chapter. “For the Youth Fair, our students compete against all the FFA and 4-H chapters in Bell County, regardless of the size of the school, public or private schools, or socioeconomic community. So much goes into these projects that in FFA we call SAE’s (supervised agricultural experiences). Students and their families invest time, energy, and money, not just for the length of a sports season, but for at least six months up to two years. For most of our students there are only one or two contests each year. The Bell County Youth Fair is the culmination of months of blood, sweat and tears. These animals that they have grown attached to and provided for, are finally getting assessed and evaluated. Because of the level of competition and the budget that our students have, even reaching the top 10 in their category is an achievement worth celebrating.”
Senior Emily Gilman is one of the Temple students having a busy week at the fair. Gilman is showing goats, rabbits, a lamb and a heifer during the week and is also competing in the equine, culinary and photography competitions. She is balancing schoolwork around the hectic fair schedule and preparing for one more competition after the Bell County Youth Fair. Gilman says she enjoys the competition and hard work, but this year’s fair is also a little bittersweet, knowing that it will be the last time she competes in this event.
“I’ve been involved with agriculture for six years and senior year is a little bittersweet for me,” Gilman said. “I know that I won’t be going to get my next set of animals after this one is over. I’ve been showing goats every year and those are my favorite, but I try to pick up something new every year and I really wanted to go all out my senior year.”
Gilman would like to build on her experiences as she follows her goal of becoming an ag teacher. She has already been accepted to McLennan Community College and then plans to continue her education at Tarleton State University after MCC.
Sophomore Ashlinn Baxter is also competing in the fair and says it has been a hectic and stressful, but fun, week. She has most enjoyed meeting new people and relaxing among the animals when she is not preparing for her competition. And the experience of competing in the fair also has opened her eyes to some new possibilities.
“I have kind of had a change of heart after getting involved with this,” Baxter said. “I think I want to be an ag teacher now and all of the experiences I am having here will help me with that.”
It the lessons like the one Baxter mentioned that sponsors hope will stick with the students competing this week. And Branton is hopeful those lessons will last just as long as the memories the students are making along the way.
“I hope that our students learn that in the end, hard work always pays off,” she said. “Success isn’t easy, and it isn’t guaranteed, but if you work hard, and are determined, it is achievable.”
Temple’s Gilman, Kelsey Johnson and Megan Porubsky all won first place with their heifers in their respective classes with Porubsky winning first place with three different animals Jasey Vahue won champion honors with her Holland Lop rabbit, Kaydence Horelica was reserve champion with her Mini Rex rabbit and Meagan Easley won reserve champion with her Yearling Doe in the goat competition. Temple High School students have also earned more than 30 other top ten finishes. For more complete results, please visit the Temple High School FFA Facebook page.