Although the Tulare County Fair may just be another fun event to go to for most Redwood students, to the Future Farmers of America (FFA) members participating, it’s a momentous occasion, and an opportunity for them to earn money for the college of their choosing.
At the fair, students who have raised their lambs or dairy animals as a two-year project, submit them to the fair, and when the day comes students show and auction the animals to potential buyers.
Even though students claim they could earn an abundance, and that there is much to learn along the way, the emotional bond makes the auction both a grand day of celebration and a day of grief.
Kadence Hutchings, ’22 explains that the day of the auction is “always a hard day,” and goes on to say that when she accepts the responsibility for the lamb, she’s also learned to “let go.”
Despite auction day being tough, Hutchings claims that it also “makes [her] feel good,” claiming that she would “definitely encourage the experience.”
As the fair continues and students continue the auction, Hutchings is both excited and sad to be leaving the FFA program as a senior.
Other students like Adam Judson, ’25 who have just joined their first year in FFA, says that he came to the project expecting everyone to be “doing their own thing… but during the summer, [they] all became a family.”
When asked how he balances school work and nurturing the market lamb, Judson explains that the entire FFA group comes together to help one another, and that they “carry the weight for everybody else.”
When looking at potential profit, students spend hundreds of dollars to provide good food and lifestyle for the lamb, hoping to make double the spending amount.
Judson says that he, “hopes she [his lamb] gets bought for a thousand dollars” which proves that the project is a gamble, and as Hutchings previously mentioned, “It takes presentation skills.”
Madison Andrade, ’23 has been a part of FFA since her freshman year, however, this year was her first showing and she has won a stunning third place on both the heifers she showed.
When asked what she expected FFA to bring, Andrade revealed that she was worried she wouldn’t feel welcomed, but ironically in her experience, it ended up being very welcoming to her surprise.
Andrade says, “it’s a really great atmosphere for everybody to be in” as she strives for success throughout the convention.
Lillie Wasem, ’23 has been in FFA since her freshman year. In regards to how she felt at the beginning of the fair, she says, “it’s hard at first, but we definitely create a personal connection by the end.”
Wasem is confident when recommending FFA to future members. She adds, “but, you have to know how much work it is,” and specifies that as fun it may be, it requires a lot of time management.
This being Jerett Crass’, ’24 first year in FFA, he is already excited to motivate his peers to join, exclaiming that, “It’s extremely fun and I had a great time [at the fair].”
Showing began Wednesday, September 15, and concluded the next day, Thursday. Selling to potential buyers will take place on Sunday, the 19.
Tags: aidanhatch, auction, clubs & lifestyles, lambs, Micah Stipech, Redwood, redwood gigantea, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs ffa, Tara Khazaeizadeh, tulare county fair, video