‘It’s going to be a good year’
A broken foot. Broken fingers. A broken wrist.
None of that could sideline these students.
Despite the injuries caused by their cows, Ally Chatwell and Hailey Alejo, both Martin High School students, still traveled to Waco recently to show their animals at the Heart O’ Texas Fair and Rodeo.
“Both injuries occurred the night before we left for the show,” said Jordan Williams, their cattle advisor and an ag teacher at Arlington High School. “I didn’t even have a chance to ask if they still wanted to go. They made it very clear they weren’t going to miss it. That’s the kind of drive and dedication our cattle team has.”
Chatwell and Alejo were part of a group of twenty Arlington ISD students who showed their heifers, steers, lambs, and goats at Heart O’ Texas, bringing home ribbons, valuable experience, and lots of motivation for the rest of the livestock show season.
Martin High School student Grace Jaquess led the way with a second place in her goat’s class.
“Getting second in my class at HOT has to be one of the most rewarding experiences of my show career,” Jaquess said. “I’ve raised goats in FFA since freshman year, and if anything, it has taught me to be resilient, learn from my mistakes, and help others.”
The experience also highlighted the teamwork that makes Arlington ISD’s agriculture programs so special.
“I love the team environment that our students have,” said Tanner Smith, Arlington High School ag teacher and FFA advisor. “They all watch each other show and work together.”
Building toward the next show
The Heart O’ Texas Fair offered the Arlington ISD students more than a chance to compete. It was also an opportunity to evaluate their progress so far, see how their animals are developing, and receive feedback as they prepare for the rest of the season.
Students have been raising their animals in the district’s Agriculture Science Center since early August.
“What many people don’t see, or take into account, is the commitment these kids have to showing,” Williams said. “Washing every day, cleaning stalls every day, feeding twice a day, all while being a student and keeping up with class and homework is no easy task. Many of our students also have part-time jobs as well to help pay for the feed and supplies for their cattle.”
The students’ commitment is mirrored by their teachers and advisors. The students all have species advisors who work with them on their showmanship, feeding, and everything that goes into raising and showing an animal. In addition to Williams for cattle and Smith for goats, Zoe Baskerville and Aisey Steele are lamb advisors, Shelby Garner is a cattle advisor, and Brandon McNeil is a goat advisor.
“My teaching partner, Ms. Garner, and I have always said, if these kids are willing to put in the time and work to raise these show cattle, then we owe it to them to haul them down the road to all of the livestock shows that we can,” Williams said.
That means there will be a lot of hauling over the next couple of months as there are still many shows to go.
“Almost every weekend there is a show happening, and our students are spending lots of their Saturdays showing,” Smith said.
The end goal is the Tarrant County Junior Livestock show in February, and this team is off to a great start.
“I think the biggest win was, even the kids who didn’t place in their class came out of the ring and asked what’s next and what do we need to do to win?” Williams said. “You can buy a box of ribbons on Amazon, but you can’t buy that kind of drive. It’s going to be a good year.”