One of my first Market lambs was the sweetest lamb I could ever ask for. I instantly fell in love with having the responsibility of prepping, feeding and taking care of a lamb to get market ready. I wanted to continue to show market lambs, so I went into the livestock industry thinking it was all butterflies and cupcakes all the time. I was at my very first jackpot show and one of my lambs was not working with me at all, I was devastated. I thought I wasted all my time working with these sheep for nothing. I took it as a lesson, work for what you want the outcome to be. Ever since then I was able to be a part of my local sheep breeding program. I never grew up with animals, so being a part of the process it takes to care for breeding animals has taught me so much. I am able to get lambs show ready, help with breeding ewes, the process of lambing, docking tails, banding testicles, and artificial insemination. I’ve learned how certain medicines work, how to fix uterus and rectal prolapses, how the process of artificial insemination happens, and etc. As you can imagine sheep have been a huge part of my life, and have grown as one of my favorite animals. Being a part of such a wonderful breeding program, it inspired me to one day make other young kids as happy as I was the first time I got my first market lamb. Every year the breeding program gives to our local schools the opportunity of getting a “Scholarship lamb”. To apply you send in a headshot and a resume, they pick out of all the applicants and give almost 30 scholarship lambs per school, which are shown at our county fair. I hope to one day, to have my own breeding program and give back to local 4-H and FFA programs. In high school I was able to take animal science and veterinary science classes, which struck my interest in livestock and taking care of animals. Being in Ag and a part of FFA has been the biggest impact in my life. FFA is an industry everyone should be a part of. I have been a Chapter officer or greenhand officer all 4 years of highschool. It has taught me leadership, hard work, commitment and dedication. During my high school years I was able to use my knowledge and experience on our own breeding flock by helping give medicine, trim hooves, and help other animals such as market goats and dairy goats with birthing.