Name: Brenda Martin
FFA Chapter: Galena FFA, Advisor Kristina Callison
Parents: Wade and Annette Martin
How are you involved in agriculture?
“I own my own cattle, I have under 10 commercial cows of my own. That’s my SAE (Supervised Agriculture Experience) project. I’m the FFA Chapter President and I’m the Area 12 Sentinel. Last year I also went to state for my proficiency project in specialty crops. I raised 14-16 acres of pearl millet. This year the crops got flooded though. My dad gave me my first calf when I was five. She’s been bred since, and I’ve still got her. I’ve added to my herd every year, and sold off the bulls.”
Why do you think it's important to be involved in agriculture?
“It’s great to know about agriculture – what it can do for you, and how you can live off of it. And (farm land) and forests are shrinking every year. It’s just an excellent thing to understand.”
What are your future plans?
“I want to go to college in farm management. I’d like to end up back at the farm. And I might — might — become an agriculture teacher.”
Do you have a role model?
I have several. My mom and dad, my brother, my grandpa and grandma. Basically my whole family and my ag teacher. She’s from California and she’s really new at this, but she’s really good at what she does.”
What's the one thing you've learned at the farm?
“I guess when you can’t hold onto a calf, you better let it go, otherwise you’ll end up dragging along behind it.”
By OFN Staff
