Name: Olivia Foster
Parents: Donald and Barbara Foster
How are you involved in agriculture?
“I have lived on a farm all my life. I work in the chicken houses with my mom during the summer. I have saved all of my heifers from the five years that I have been showing. I just now got my first crop of show calves. I manage my own little herd and help my dad with all the other cattle.” Olivia is a member of Green Forest FFA and Beef 4-H Club.
How do you think agriculture has made you the person you are today?
“I started out being extremely shy. Mom and Dad gave me a pig one year and said, ‘Now, you have to talk to everyone to get everything done for this pig. Go talk to the feed store and see what type of feed you need and talk to the judges after the show.’ For a shy girl that didn’t hardly socialize with people at school, that had to get me out of my box. It has taught me responsibility because I have to get up and feed every morning and every evening. (Now, with cows) I have to get them up and worm them and give them shots when they need it. I have to get them bred back, too. I am certified to A.I.”
What agriculture accomplishments are you most proud of?
“I am most proud of when my Shorthorn heifer, Whitey, won the state Grand Champion Shorthorn three years ago. That feeling was absolutely amazing."
What are your plans for the future?
“I plan to go to the college that offers me the best deal. Of course, being an Arkansas native, I would love to go to the U of A. I really want to be a teacher. I was looking at teaching art, history or agriculture. I also want to be a genetics specialist for cattle. It’s really broad right now. I hope to have my own little farm with my own herd of cattle. Hopefully, I’ll have some really awesome show calves.”
