Name: Jessica Crawley, 16
Parents: Kim and Nikki Crawley
Hometown: Maysville, Ark.
4-H Club: Maysville 4-H club
What is your 4-H project?
“My main project is dairy science which is showing and working with my Milking Shorthorns, pretty much an everyday thing. I also show one Holstein heifer and one commercial heifer. My secondary projects are gardening and foods and nutrition. I especially like making chocolate chip cookies from my grandmother’s recipe.”
How did you get started with 4-H?
“My dad and grandpa were part of 4-H so me getting started at 5 was natural. I still have my first cow, Mae, who is now 12.”
Favorite 4-H Moment and Awards: “When I was showing at the 2011 Dairy Days and the 2011 County Fair, I won Supreme Heifer and Supreme Cow at both shows. Last year at the County Fair my dry Shorthorn won superior over a milking Holstein and a milking Jersey. That just doesn’t happen so I was really happy.”
What do you do to help out on the farm?
“I do everything but tractor work and breeding using AI. That means I feed the calves, milk, sort, vaccinate or whatever the day’s chores happen to be.”
Favorite Possession: “I love my cows more than anything. If I have a bad day, they’re always there and always listen.”
Long-Term Goal: “My initial plan was to be a large and small animal vet, but I now know that I want a career in dairy and will perhaps take over our farm someday.”
Story and Photo by Terry Ropp
