Where Passion Meets Purpose
My FFA journey officially started in sixth grade. When my middle school announced that students were only allowed to participate in one club, I knew FFA was the one for me. Fast forward to my eighth grade year, and I was serving as chapter vice president. Now, wrapping up my sophomore year of high school, I just finished my year of service as chapter reporter.
In order to understand my love of agriculture, we need to go back a few years. I grew up just down the road from my grandparents’ cattle farm. Since a young age, I have always loved spending time on the farm, and especially enjoyed the cows. My parents ended up surprising me with my two first bottle calves in 2019, “Buttercup” and “Milkshake.” Little did I know, these two steers would be the start of my agriculture journey.
Bottle feeding Buttercup and Milkshake.
This year, I raised my 20th bottle calf. The bottle calves I have taken in over the past seven years laid the foundation for my agricultural journey.
In 2020, I decided to take a leap of faith and purchase my first two show wethers. However, due to COVID restrictions, the county fair was cancelled. This only added to my drive to get out and show the next year, and that’s exactly what I did. Every August since 2021, I have had the privilege of showing goats at my county fair.
“Zinnia,” a Boer bottle goat.
A few years down the road, my grandma downsized her herd. At the time, I thought that my agriculture journey was coming to a screeching halt. I didn’t know what was going to happen next; my passion for agriculture had just started, and I knew there were so many opportunities and possibilities just waiting for me.
To my surprise, my parents bought about 10 cows from my grandma. Since we reduced the cattle herd and I was getting old enough to take care of animals on my own, I started getting involved in showing livestock.
“Ellie,” a boer show goat.
The People Behind the Purpose
For me, showing goats was never about the banners or ribbons; it’s about what it took to get me there. The people who supported me along the way. The lessons learned from the barn to the show ring. That’s my “why” and my drive. I know wholeheartedly that without the support of others, I wouldn’t be the young leader I am today. This has truly made me learn to live in the moment and appreciate the people who have surrounded me with love and support, no matter what was going on in my life or theirs.
In my seventh grade year, my 4-H club leader introduced me to livestock judging. Saying it was intimidating would be an understatement, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from giving it my all. I am now finishing up my fourth year of judging. All I can say is that it changed my life. It gave me the confidence to put myself out there, and it taught me that it will all work out. Even if I busted every class, there would always be people cheering me on. I am also the oldest in my 4-H club by several years, so not having kids my own age makes me appreciate my high school FFA chapter so much more.
This past year at the 99th Virginia State FFA Convention, I had the privilege of competing on a team with two other girls from my FFA chapter in the livestock judging career development event competition. Knowing this would probably be my only opportunity to compete with a team in livestock judging, I sat back and took it all in.
While everyone was prepping their spring yearling wether reasons, I had a full-circle moment. Thinking about all the memories of judging over the years was bittersweet because I realized I only had a couple years of livestock judging left. But, right then and there, I promised myself that no matter what happened, I would continue to compete in 4-H and FFA competitions, even if it was as an individual.
The 2025 James River FFA Livestock Judging Team.
My hope is to set an example of persevering, even when life gets hard, and to inspire others to pursue their passions. Looking back on my journey, the only thing I regret is not starting sooner.
If I had the chance to go back in time, I would tell myself two things. The first would be to never take the little moments for granted, and the second would be to do the hard thing. Do it scared, do it excited, do it nervous and do it happy because one day you won’t be able to do it at all.
