As the winter starts and snow falls onto the ground, it’s important to take time to recognize the students who worked hard all summer and fall. One activity that many people overlook in the summer is showing livestock through FFA and 4-H. Showing livestock is a different experience for each student, but it teaches responsibility, accountability, and how to take care of a living thing.
Now a freshman at MHS Coen Navarro, spent the summer after his eighth-grade year showing a lamb for the first time.
“I didn’t grow up on a farm or anything, I just joined FFA in middle school, and it really stuck,” said Coen
FFA (Future Farmers of America) is an extracurricular activity that teaches leadership skills through the interworkings of agriculture. Our Muscatine FFA is a high-ranking chapter, winning the Iowa State Outstanding Agricultural Award and the Region 3 Outstanding Agricultural Chapter. Showing livestock is a vital part of this program.
“I decided to show because of my ag teacher who said it would be good for me, and it definitely was. I had no idea what I was doing at first but am glad I did it,” said Coen
But what kind of work goes into showing a lamb? Like any animal, sheep, and lambs take much time and responsibility to care for. Students showing through FFA are responsible for feeding on their assigned days, taking time to gain trust with their animals, and training them how to behave in the show ring.
“My sheep this year’s name was Dave, I didn’t name him, but it really stuck and fit him really well,” said Coen
There are many different breeds of sheep and millions of classes to compete in, but for Coen, his main goal was to make it through the stressful week of the county fair successfully.
“County fair actually went really well, Dave was a stubborn sheep and I was pretty worried, but It went so well I felt proud,” said Coen
“My favorite part of showing had to be meeting the people, I don’t know how I would even make it if I didn’t meet the people I showed with this summer,” said Coen.
FFA and livestock are monumental parts of the MHS curriculum, and having students like Coen dedicate their time to their craft shows how well these students are educated.
“I highly recommend showing, I learned a lot and met my best friends,” said Coen.
Showing livestock is a niche sport that usually is generational, and a way to show off the family’s livestock. However people overlook the benefits that showing has on the student as a whole. MHS is extremely lucky to have a program that gives small-town students the real country experience.
