From 1300 FFA chapters statewide, 97 teams at area and 19 teams at district, eight FFA teams participated in many different agricultural competitions at state.

FFA uses four different state contest locations because of size and expense issues. At Texas Tech April 24, the horse judging team placed third overall with senior Lauren Moore placing third as an individual. Also, junior Arianne Cox, who has competed in horse judging for two years, finished in 13th place. The Agronomy and Ag Comm teams both placed eighth.

“We studied all the way up to state, and Lauren Moore and I had a lot of freshmen on our team so we had to prepare and train them,” Cox said. “We had to figure out what their strengths and weaknesses were so we could help them to learn what to do.”

Cox said FFA is an organization which prepares people for different agricultural activities.

“You can do anything from talent, to public speaking, to judging wool or even cheeses,” Cox said. “It’s a great opportunity to figure out if you want to do something in agriculture or if it’s not for you.”

Senior Bretton Strickland competed at state in livestock judging and tied for 10th as an individual from among 390 students and has competed in livestock judging since third grade. Strickland said in livestock judging, he judges sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, grade slaughter cattle and takes quizzes over the animals.

“There wasn’t a lot of preparation for state,” Strickland said. “We just competed in a few practice meets throughout the year.”

Strickland said people can do a number of things in FFA other than stock shows.

“You can do speaking events, floral design and build stuff in the shop,” Strickland said. “There’s an endless amount of opportunities for people in FFA. Plus, you’re going to make a lot of friends in the process.”

Strickland said FFA classes are not blow-off classes.

“People really don’t understand how many friends and connections you’re going to make in FFA,” Strickland said. “There’s so much more than the stereotype in agriculture. If you just give it a chance, you’re going to fall in love with it for sure.”