Junior Nolen Pitzer has been showing steers since his freshman year, when he first heard about FFA.
“I’ve had a passion for plants since I was a little kid. Then I moved here the summer before my freshman year, and I didn’t know you could raise livestock or animals,” Pitzer said.
This year, he returned to the livestock show scoring the title of reserve champion steer. He was given the second pick for steers in May, and has been washing, feeding, walking and training it to prepare for the show.
“Basically, it’s your child that you have to take care of, and it’s twice a day every day,” Pitzer said. “I have to go before and after school every day and over the summer, and then from the beginning of school to February you have to do it again. It’s kind of hard to balance between school and extracurriculars and the barn.”
While the task took tenacity, his passion for the organization kept him returning every year. Following his success, Pitzer reflects on the difficulties and the effort that his devotion required.
“I honestly wouldn’t have been able to do this without all my friends and family helping me along the way. I would honestly just like to thank my chapter for always being there for me.”
Senior Addison Breland takes her wins and losses in stride, showing six goats in the past four years. Fascinated in animals and ownership from a young age, she knew FFA could be her calling. She stresses the amount of responsibility that is required to raise an animal. No matter the temperature, the weather or the day of the week, the commitment comes first.
“These kids that show have not only put several hundred hours of time into showing but also have spent quite a bit of money on their animals. You won’t win every time and you’ll never be perfect, but you can always grow,” Breland said. “It’s all subjective to what the judge thinks is the best.”
Presenting well in front of the judge is the final goal in training an animal. In only a few months with their animal, students have to prepare animals to walk properly, have the right balance of fat and muscle, and to appear balanced.
“FFA and showing is not about making money in any way. If you plan on showing to make money you’re doing it all for the wrong reasons,” Breland said.
She believes that the commitment is about more than money, but learning valuable skills like time management, leadership skills and working as a team. While raising independently and competing against other members of your school, the community still makes a point to uplift each other. This makes the event one of FFA president Madison Furch’s favorites.
“Livestock Show is probably one of the best times of the year. I don’t care about all of the work I have to make up,” Furch said. “It’s a time for the whole FFA chapter to combine and I love it because everyone’s supporting each other.”
