A novice entering a stock show might be overwhelmed by the smell of manure, but seasoned FFA members knew that was the smell of money.
“For the past couple of years I’ve been investing in projects for the next year,” FFA senior Emily Archuleta said. “Most of the money I make back goes to buying feed. This year I’ll probably put it into college because it’s my senior year.”
Although the money is good, FFA participants initially began for the animals. Archuleta shows rabbits and took grand champion at the Gaines County Show on Jan. 13.
“I started in 4-H doing clubs and found a love for animals,” Archuleta said. “I love caring for them and doing all of that stuff.”
Senior Addison Shook has been on the stock show for 14 years.
“I began with with performance horses when I was younger,” Shook said. “In third grade, I expanded my experience to showing pigs, and I have continued to do both ever since.”
Shook took breed champion in the barrows competition at the Gaines County show on Jan. 16.
Senior Sarah Danley and her family show longhorns.
“I’ve been showing for about ten years,” senior Sarah Danley said. “My family and I bought two longhorns and expanded from there. Longhorns are my favorite because that’s what we started out doing.”
FFA members spend hours each day on their animals.
“On weekdays, I typically spend about two hours at the barn,” Shook said. “Weekends can vary depending on the visits from my breeder, who helps evaluate my animals’ progress and adjusts their feed accordingly.”
Caring for animals is a time consuming task.
“I spend about four hours each day for a couple of them,” Danley said. “It goes on from there for the week.”
Because the students spend so much time with their animals, it’s easy to develop a bond. Freshman J’Cee Washington took breed champion in light WOPB swine at the Gaines County show.
“I get attached to my animals,” Washington said. “Over the time you take care of them, you build a relationship with them.”
One of the lessons 4-H and FFA members learn is that the animals are expendable.
“You have them for months, so you get attached to them,” FFA senior Jase Warlick said. “It’s hard getting rid of them, but you have to do it every year either way.”
Parting with the animal is hard but new animals come.
“You get attached to a point, but I got used to selling them because you have to love them to have them thrive,” Archuleta said. “It’s sad to see them go, but then you look forward to the next animal.”
Even though the members have multiple animals, certain ones are more enjoyable to work with than others.
“Throughout my career, I have grown quite attached to my animals, as I work with them daily over the course of several months,” Shook said. “While I enjoy showing all types of animals, pigs are particularly natural for me, and they remain my favorite to work with.”
Warlick said he likes pigs the best, but Archuleta liked lambs and pigs.
“I like pigs because my family gets involved with them,” Archuleta said. “I like lambs because they’re really unique, and I do everything by myself with them like learning how to feed and take care of them, so it’s been a big learning curve.”
It can be tougher to get rid of an animal.
“Some are harder to sell than others,” Archuleta said. “This year it will be hard because I picked out everything, it’s all my work.”
When a student takes an animal into the show ring, the judge is looking for a good animal and a person who can handle that animal.
“I remember that I put in the work and good things will come from that,” Archuleta said. “I try to stay focused.”
This motivation helps the members to work harder with their animals.
“I am constantly motivated by the realization that I am fortunate to have opportunities that many others do not,” Shook said. “This drives me to work diligently both in and out of the show ring.”
