The Future Farmers of America, or FFA, is one of the larger organizations at Judson High School. The program is designed to help students learn how to raise animals, to farm for sustainability, and grow crops, among many other skills.

Each year, The Barnyard Committee meets to plan a showing for elementary school students. The committee leader junior Mallori Johnson, along with co-chairs senior Joshua Borg and sophomore Haley Klar, facilitated the visit.

“We put together the committee in the beginning of the year and students create short scripts to educate the children in areas that entertain them,” agricultural science teacher Lauren Henderson said

On November 21, the organization welcomed elementary students from Elolf, Converse, Crestveiw, Copperfield, Olympia, and Hopkins to the barns to showcase their work, and introduce them to the program.

“Showing kids what FFA has to offer and what they do, the kids start wanting to raise animals of their own,” junior Klar said.

The young students that arrive at the barn were amazed by the animals, as many of them have never seen then at a school, or even that close up. More so, the elementary school teachers were ecstatic to see their students have a great time admiring the rabbits, baby chicks, and Oakley the steer.

“It’s an amazing feeling teaching the younger children about FFA. They get so excited about it and are just so amazed because most of them have never seen a farm animal up close and getting to see them get so interested in the shows is amazing,” Henderson said.

The organization displays lambs, chickens, goats, rabbits cattle, swine and plants. FFA students help the young students understand the terminology, use and care of all the animals, complete with props.

“We ask the kids questions, or try to play games with them or ask about how their experience was with the animals to try and get them to interact and feel comfortable,” Henderson said.

They also included what consumer products come from what is raised on farms and ranches too. In addition, the tour included a trip to the greenhouse where the young students learned about the photosynthesis cycle.

Something new that the two day event featured was a special guest speaker. Emilee Trlica from the Texas Farm Bureau was invited to give a presentation about cotton and the many things it’s used for.

“We hear the kids all the time saying how they want to raise their own farm animals or that they can’t wait to come back again to see the animals,” Henderson said. “There have even been a few kids that have come back in the following year happy to see and learn about FFA again.”

This is a yearly event that the FFA puts on to showcase their program to younger students in an effort to recruit them when they enter high school. It is a benefit to both the high school students and the elementary students because they get to experience learning about animals and have an opportunity to have an idea about job choices in their future.