Our FFA, or, Future Farmers of America, strive to become hardworking and strong leaders, through agricultural education. During these past few months, FFA students have begun purchasing animals to raise for AGFest in June. The students got to choose an animal to raise and eventually sell. The animals able to be chosen were, steers, dairy heifers, lambs, pigs, goats.

Each animal gets raised for different reasons. Steers and pigs are raised for meat, so the students raising them have to “fatten” them up for AgFest. Heifers are raised by the FFA students to become dairy cows. When the students purchase the heifers, they are pregnant, and when they are sold at AgFest, they will become dairy heifers. Lambs are raised for wool, so FFA members raising them take care of their wool to ensure it is in tip-top condition when they are sold. Goats are raised to eventually become dairy goats.

Raising an animal for FFA teaches students important life skills. Students who raise their animals learn patience, responsibility, problem solving, and focus. Animals have minds of their own, so they will sometimes put up fights when students are trying to train them. This teaches students about patience as it is important to understand that these animals do not speak the same language as we do. Students also have to be responsible by feeding their animal twice a day, cleaning their pens, along with grooming and taking care of their animals’ coats. Raising animals for AGFest truly prepares Ripon High’s FFA students for their future endeavors and teaches them responsibility.