FFA
While we often focus on winning, the true value of livestock judging lies in the character traits and “intangible advantages” that stay with a person long after the final card is turned in.
FFA helps young people open doors, build lifelong networks and prepare them for future success.
About a mile after he passed a car on fire, Chad Rieck noticed smoke rolling out of his trailer. Within a minute or two, his trailer carrying gilts back from Aksarben was on fire.
There’s nothing like a livestock show to bring family and friends together. For these Illinois State Fair exhibitors, that’s a big reason why they devote so much time in the barn.
The overall goal of a biosecurity plan is to safeguard herd health to support overall productivity and profit.
Kids aren’t the only one learning valuable life lessons at stock shows – parents do, too. Veteran show mom Emily Spray gets real about comparison, navigating disappointment and keeping the big things big.
Fairs provide an invaluable time to engage with the public about agriculture. But watch out for detractors attempting to sway public opinion and protest these events.
Learn more about opportunities for student internships, rancher scholarships and cattle marketing program updates.
In one second, years of audience-building and customer relationships were lost for Chris and Kaitlyn Hofschulte, showpig breeders in Miami, Okla.
It doesn’t matter how old we are. Mentors are valuable at all stages of life. All too often we fail to make the first move to ask because we let our doubts have more power than they deserve in our lives.
Six livestock industry leaders pay tribute to the mothers who inspired a passion for livestock and agriculture in their lives.
Many show animal feeds exist. As an exhibitor, it’s critical to make informed decisions on how to choose the right feed as you feed for your endpoint. Here are four things to look for on your show animal feed.
As generations become further removed from the farm, the need for people who can educate and inspire future livestock leaders has never been greater. Dan Hoge shares his secrets to reach the next generation.
Not every youngster is playing Fortnite and dancing on Tik Tok all day. Learn about a young man out west who is keeping tradition alive, one classic tractor at a time.
Livestock industry responds to 17-year-old Alonso Apodaca’s decision to let steers loose at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
Every once in a while, there is a bond that is so strong that it can only exist between exhibitor and the animal. But that bond takes time together, hours of practice and patience.
Jesse Heimer set out to produce a song and music video that embodies what stock show families live, breathe and dream. Over time, Heimer’s plan grew into an anthem that all of agriculture can appreciate.
The best day of his judging career, only four points shy of a 50-year-old record, will be how John Reaves of Spring, Texas, remembers being named high individual at the National Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest.
In a world where more and more young people are glued to electronic devices and missing out on community, FFA offers connection, hands-on learning and adult mentors to invest in their lives.
Just in time for school to start, in the midst of the Illinois State Fair, students across the state will no longer be penalized for participating in a 4-H or FFA event.
Easton Corbin is no stranger to agriculture. Growing up in Florida, raising and showing cattle was engrained from the start, as was FFA. The Florida farm kid, instead, attending college majoring in Agriculture Business
FFA students searching for success can learn from Oklahoma’s Raegan Klaassen and her well-traveled path to the 2021 National Star Farmer stage in Indianapolis.
When Charlie Bortner and Wyatt Myers spotted a 1938 Farmall F-20, they knew it needed a lot of work. A 6-month FFA project turned into a two-year undertaking, and the finished project is now polished perfection.
A line of storms snaked through Texas, resulting in several tornadoes on March 21. An F3 tornado touched down outside of Jacksboro, ripping buildings to shreds, including the local high school and ag shop.
Sometimes the greatest lesson we can learn in life is how to not see a setback as a failure. Here’s how five FFA members are discovering challenges are never the end of the road, but rather the beginning.
There’s no question National FFA Convention be a bit overwhelming at first. The sheer magnitude of the event is a lot to take in. Here are six expert tips to make the most of your week in Indianapolis.