Adair County High School students competed in the second annual Kentucky Junior Cattleman’s Association Cattle Working Competition and qualified to compete tomorrow at state competition in Hardin County.
The team is comprised of four students: James Jessie, Brent Moore, Ethan Wooten and alternate Tianna King.
Although not an FFA sponsored event, all four students are in the Adair County FFA chapter under the direction of Gabby Barnes. Students must be of high school age, beef quality assurance certified, and have chute experience. As a team, the students must complete a processing plan, team problem, and then process three head of cattle using Beef Quality Care and Assurance guidelines.
Competing against teams across the state consisting of students from 4-H chapters, FFA chapters, county cattleman’s group and home school groups, the Adair County team is among the top 10 in the state in their first year of competition.
Barnes formed the team in January by having the class work cattle and then chose the four team members.
Not only do they learn how to work cattle, but they learn how to work together as a team. Each of them has their own responsibility. The teammates laughed as they talked about how frustrating it was in the beginning with them bumping into each other and not knowing what to do. In a few months, they made significant progress and each has learned where they function best and now they run “like a fine oiled machine,” according to Barnes.
The hands-on aspect of the competition is limited to 10 minutes. Jessie said each one must be ready to do their part as soon as they are signaled to begin for them to be successful. If they take longer than 10 minutes to complete the task, points are deducted.
“This wouldn’t happen without community support,” said Barnes. “The stakes are high. There is a risk of injury, of student injury and animal injury.”
Several local farmers have allowed the students to work hands on with their cattle to prepare for the competition. They have entrusted these students with animals worth at least $1000 plus each.
This program gives students the opportunity to be work ready when they graduate.
“Every single kid that I have prepped for this would make a wonderful beef cattle producer,” says Barnes.
Her main goal is for every student in her program to leave high school and be capable of being a successful adult.
By Amy Pike
newsroom2@adairvoice.com
