I raised commercial heifers and steers for several years, some being successful and some not as much. But all those years and activites ago, I never imagined I would be have taken on the challenges and leadership roles I have been audacious enough to face. The National FFA Organization is my most prideful youth-led organization I am apart of. I entered the FFA under the Diboll FFA Chapter my freshman year and am thankful for all of the opportunities and experiences I have received. Every year I have participated in different competitions that have developed my leadership skills and will help me in my future for career and life success. I also am an exhibitor in major and county livestock shows. I grew up raising cattle for the local county fair every year and it has been something I have truly loved to do. I have shown heifers and steers throughout my FFA career leaving with a banner almost every year. After so many years of competing and getting my name out, this is what I am mostly known for in my local show and
As veterinary technicians, we will communicate with clients and co-workers on a daily basis. Whether it be in an office setting, or just everyday life, communication is a big part of our world. Interpersonal communication is “relating to or involving relations between people.” (Merriam Webster 2016) Can you imagine taking your sick pet to the clinic and no one shows you any empathy and instead only instructs you on what you should have done to prevent any illnesses, and what you need to do now that your pet is sick? In order to understand the importance of interpersonal communication, possessing good listening skills, clarifying information, and communicating effectively are key.
Ever since forty plus years ago Agriculturalists have shown a variety of show cattle and ran ranches with them. I showed cattle for a few years throughout my FFA experience. Cattle have played a huge role in our society feeding families and other people who reside in this world. Their effect on human culture is something that we take much pride in when raising our cattle whether it is for companion or meat products. Previous cattle showman know and strive to achieve the ultimate goal: winning grand champion. This reward is earned by having the best show calf in the ring to the judge’s perspective. In order to reach this goal, the exhibitor must use proper feeding methods and show technique. (Insert thesis here.)
We then reimplant them and take them off the halters until a few weeks before a show. When they are off the halters we check on them daily. In the summer, we tie up our steers, and walk them 3 times a day to water. We also give them a rinse each evening to help keep them cool. Over the years I have won Rate of Gain, Class Champion, Reserve Grand Champion, and Grand Champion with my steers. But, Livestock is not all I have done in 4-H. I have also tried a few general projects. My favorite general project has been my sports fishing project. My first year showing this project I created a soda can casting device to help me practice my casting, I then recorded my improvements as I practiced. My second year I built a fish habitat for our farm pond. I used old plastic culverts, stainless steel cables, and clamps. To build the habitat I used fifteen gallon drums attached to the top, and to keep it from floating to the top I attached concrete stepping stones to the bottom. To show the project I created a poster and was chosen to go to the Illinois State Fair to represent my county. All of my projects have taught me responsibility and have helped me improve my public presentation
I was in seventh grade when I first started goat tying. It was my first year of 4-h and I was really nervous. My mom had taught me the basics of goat tying and then after I got the hang of that I had Kris Birkeland, Sidni’s mom, help me with more advanced stuff.
This is my first year showing an animal at the fair ,but I am excited to continue growing with the many experiences to come in the following years. I have gained knowledge from how to properly fit and groom in addition to learning about responsibility, time management, public speaking, and keeping records of my expenses , hours and income. On top of that, I also learned volumes about how the FFA works and what its real purpose is. The FFA isn’t
Dr. Dickerson explained what the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo means to him, “It means networking. It means leading. It means legacy. It means that there is so much more involved that just some money we receive. It seems like it’s a lifelong experience with all of
Since I was a little girl I had been helping my grandma in her garden. My grandma had eleven grandchildren and was the youngest. I’m not exactly sure why I was one the
The reason I chose to use my show cattle as the main part of my video is because they are really important to me and have probably had biggest impact on my life as a whole. For the last 10 years I have been showing cattle and it has been a huge part of my life ever since. Showing cattle has taught me more about life and responsibility then anything else in my life ever has. Throughout the years of showing my cattle I have made many friends and been lots of places. The reason I chose the pictures that I did for my show cattle part of the video is because they show the way that I have grown and learned more over the last few years about showing cattle in specific. Having pictures of multiple years of calves that I have showed, explain how my showing abilities have improved since I started showing cattle. I mixed the different cattle that I have showed so that my video would show different perspectives of my show calves and the different breeds that I have showed. These pictures help me look back at the different shows I have been too with different calves helps me understand what I have improved on. Each calf that I have had, has been different in many ways, and each one has made me go out of my comfort zone in different ways and helped me learn new things such as, showing a different breed that I had no experience in, breaking calves to lead, new techniques for showing and prep, and figuring out new feed rations for my calves.
As the 56th Annual Henderson County Livestock Show [HCLS] rolled around the corner this year, I was not expecting to have the honor of becoming
In order to show a 4-H calf you have to buy one. All you have to do is go to a local cattle operation. If you are a first year I recommend just getting a feeder calf. In order to train you have to take baby steps. Start with getting close and friendly with the calf, then go on to halter and walking. You also need to wash them and grow the hair. The better the hair the better they will do in open shows. Open shows are one day cattle shows in other cities. It takes a lot of work to get your cattle in tip-top shape for
The Panola county show is a livestock show where every school in Panola county comes out and shows their animal. You can show chickens, rabbits, goats, lambs, pigs, and cows. I showed a goat my very first year I started to show. But after that year I have always shown a pig for our Panola county show. I usually get my pig at the end of October and keep him until February 24th whenever I sell him. Every morning I wake up and go feed him before I get ready for school. After school, I come home and walk him and then feed him.
Showing steers is not as easy as some may think. You now see that there are many steps in preparing a show steer. Although, cattle aren’t easy to maintain they teach you responsibility and allow you to love them just as you love any other pet. Cattle have made a lasting impact in my life and I hope that they can make a lasting impact in yours as well.
We bred our ewes with a Suffolk ram in the 3rd week of August on a 1 acre pasture. We hope in the future to expand the pasture to 4 acres. 3 years ago my dad put up a 50x45 foot pole barn and seeded a 1 acre pasture. We were then able to bring our flock of sheep to our home. This has given me way more experience with the sheep. I do the daily chores, help tag, vaccinate, castrate and tail, help with lambing, clip hooves, and help shear. I also kept track of ewes the buck chalked, dates ewes lambed, weights of the lambs, and overall health of the flock. I am really enjoying having this responsibility.
For example, using a leftover coffee can for loose nails or screws, or even washing and reusing a plastic zip-loc bag instead of throwing it in the garbage. Thrift shopping is a way of reusing someone else’s unwanted goods. As I spoke about in an earlier speech about thrifting, I included many locations and ways to thrift, also the benefits to the shopper and the donator. One place in particular was shopping at the local boys and girls club. I personally shop there, keeping my eyes open for a good deal. For example, the pair of jeans that I am wearing today was purchased from this store just a few months ago. I paid only $8.00 for this pair of Lucky Jeans and according to buckle.com, a retailer for lucky jeans the retail price is $99.00 that is a savings to me of $91.00.I am not the type to worry about name brands, but quality usually does cost more. If I can get a quality pair of jeans at a fraction on the price, I am glad to shop at the thrift store. I am thankful to the person that made the donation of the lucky jeans and they can benefit from that donation. According to the IRS webpage, IRS. Gov it explains that an individual can donate items like clothing, household furniture and furnishings, a car or boat, even taxidermy. The donations are appraised, by the donator, and recorded. At the time of filing taxes if the donation equals at least $500 for the year, the donator may take advantage of the